IS2 THE APIARY. 



economy, they use the surplus thus obtained for the con- 

 struction of the -cells. After a sheet has been partly 

 worked at by the bees,. it is interesting to hold it up to 

 the light and observe the beautiful transparency of that 

 part of it, contrasted with the opaqueness of the part not 

 yet laboured upon. 



When it is considered, as writers tell us, that more 

 than 14 lbs. of honey are required for the secretion and 

 elaboration of a single pound of comb, it will not be 

 difficult to form a just estimate of the value of this inven- 

 tion, which thus furnishes cheap and excellent assistance 

 to our industrious favourites. It also shows the bee- 

 keeper that all clean empty combs should be carefully 

 preserved and considered as valuable Stock. Another 

 great advantage that it affords us is, that it renders us 

 independent of guide-comb, which is not always obtain- 

 able. When a sheet or a strip of this impressed wax 

 is properly fixed to the comb-bar, it is certain to be the 

 guide and foundation of a straight comb. This invention 

 has been derived from Germany, where it has been 

 adopted many years with success. At the International 

 Exhibition of 1862, we purchased the metal plates or 

 castings, so as to manufacture the impressed sheets with 

 which we are now able to supply our customers ; and, 

 after the careful trials we have made, we have great 

 confidence in recommending them. 



In the season of 1863 we furnished a Woodbury glass 

 super, with the wax sheets fixed to the bars, in the: 



