CHAPTER IX 



USE OF FOUNDATION 



One thing which has been impressed upon 

 the writer by his work as a bee inspector, is 

 the enormous losses among beekeepers gen- 

 erally from rearing useless drones. It is not 

 uncommon in neglected apiaries to find hives 

 with one-third to more than one-half drone 

 comb. In some apiaries where good equipment 

 is used and fairly good practice followed other- 

 wise, this fault is apparent. It is very evident 

 that the owners of such outfits cannot realize 

 the great cost of rearing such large numbers of 

 loafers instead of producing a profitable work- 

 ing force. If they did, such conditions would 

 not be tolerated. 



It requires as much food and attention from 

 the nurse bees to rear drones as workers, and 

 the drones will continue to be a tax on the col- 



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