266 THE LORE OF THE HONEY-BEE 
and as perfectly excluded during the sultriest time 
of year. Double walls round the brood-chamber 
are a necessity in the changeable British climate, 
where chilly days are always probable during ten 
months out of the twelve. 
As well as honey-production, the bee-farmer will 
find an equal source of profit in the production of 
wax. Just as there is nothing like leather, beeswax 
holds its own as a marketable commodity in spite 
of paraffin substitutes. But if it is almost univer- 
sally degraded by adulteration, the fault lies with 
the beemen, who have never seriously attempted 
to meet the demand for it. Wax-production on a 
large scale is perfectly feasible, and there is little 
doubt that it could be developed into an important 
British industry, as it used to be in medizval 
days. Yet these are times of revolution: the 
honey-bee may yet find herself entirely restored 
to her old national avocation—of bringing light to 
our darkness, and to our bodies one of the best 
and purest of foods. 
