PEEIJMINABY WORK 



35 



per lb. If the objective is nice frames of l)rood-comb, — 

 comb in whicli the bees rear their young — it is advisable 

 to order "medium brood" foundation. This quality will 

 also do for the combs the novice expects to extract; 

 these latter are classed as super-combs. Should the 

 apiarist desire to have the honey stored in the comb-super 

 {e.g., the little lib. sections) it will be necessary to order 

 "thin surplus." The heavier grade "medium brood" 

 is too thick, though the stouter foundation i.s more 



Fig. 21. Comb Foundation (slightly enlarged). 



readily accepted and drawn out bj'' the bees into comb. 



Foundation not only secures beautifully even combs — 

 and this is appreciated when uncapping them — but it 

 also permits the apiarist to exercise some control over 

 the number of drones produced in the apiary. Normally, 

 drones are reared in cells measuring 14 inch in diameter, 

 ISJ-tI make a square inch, or one side of comb. Worker- 

 coml) is somewhat smaller, measuring one-fifth of an inch 

 in diameter, and 28x| cells (CJiesJiire) are required to 

 equal the aforementioned area of comb. Owing to this 

 difference in size, the intelligent apiculturist is able 

 to restrict the production of drones to one or two selected 

 colonies. 



Foundation is made "worker" size only. Bees, 

 permitted to build comb Avithout man's interference, will 

 have almost as much drone pattern as "worker." Drones 

 are required only for mating with young queens. They 



