26 BEEKEEPING 



the young are reared and in which honey 

 is stored are buUt vertically in parallel 

 series sufficient to fill the space they oc- 

 cupy. As a rule these combs are in the 

 form of various sized plates which are 

 rather carefully and accurately spaced, 

 one from another. Under certain circum- 

 stances, however, and especially around 

 the sides of the space occupied, the bees 

 build short lengths of "brace comb" and 

 this may run at right angles to the main 

 cluster. Not infrequently too, they may 

 build "cross combs," or the whole affair 

 may be constructed "on the bias" and 

 the surface of each individual comb may 

 present a tortuous aspect. In a wild state 

 the bees wUl use as much or as little of the 

 comb as they may need, adding to it in 

 seasons of plenty and retreating to a 

 smaller area in winter and during slack 

 seasons. In other words, there is no con- 

 fining element in the wild hives ; it is an 

 elastic unit. 

 This wild condition naturally includes 



