190 "WAS AKD COMB. 



extracting the lioney from them, I place them where the 

 bees will thoroughly clean them of honey, and then pack 

 them away in a dry, cool place, where they will not be- 

 come soiled. They may be placed in a box of suitable 

 size, with a door in the side, under a swarm, and should 

 be removed as fast as cleaned. 



In Chapter X., on Boxing, another mode of securing 

 guide combs is mentioned. I desire particularly to call 

 attention to these practical methods, to show that with a 

 little forethought, there is no necessity for using founda- 

 tion in surplus boxes. 



RELATIVE AMOUNT OF BOX AlfD EXTEACTED HONEY. 



It is claimed by some that we may expect to secure 

 twice as much extracted honey as box honey. This may 

 be true in some cases, but when extracting a large num- 

 ber of hives, I think it not safe to expect over one-third 

 or one-half more. The price that each quality commands 

 will determine which it is most profitable to produce. 



CHAPTER XII. 



WAX ANI? COMB. 



WAX. 



During the summer season, when honey is being gath- 

 ered rapidly, and combs must be constructed in which it 

 may be deposited, the observing bee-keeper will 

 notice scales of wax upon the under side of the 

 abdomen of the bee, as seen in fig. 74. Wax is 

 a natural secretion of the honey-bee and, as has 

 been demonstrated by many of our most able 

 apiarians, may be ]iroduced by feeding honey or 

 syrup, even when the bees are confined to the 

 These scales are detached from the body with the 



