Apiary Experiments. 5 



Table Showing the Weight, in Grains per Square Inch, of Different 



Kinds of Artificial Foundation, and of the Midribs 



of Comb Built upon Each. 



The accompanying table gives, in the upper line, the heaviest 

 weights found ; in the second line the lightest weiglits ; and in the 

 third line the average weights, computed from a good number of ex- 

 amples in each case. The excess in weight above that of the mid- 

 rib of natural worker comb is given in the bottom line. 



The differences in weight between these foundations and the 

 midribs of comb built upon them do not represent the weight 

 of the wax removed from the midrib of the foundation bj'^ the bees, 

 as the foundation has short cell walls which are also thinned. 

 These may be seen by looking at illustrations of sections of founda- 

 tion in Plates 2 and 4. It will be seen by the table that none of the 

 comb built on foundation has a midrib af light as that of the nat- 

 ural worker comb, though, in some cases, the midribs of comb on 

 thin and extra thin super foundations and on the "1899" deep-cell 

 foundation are but little heavier than those of natural comb. 



It will also be noticed that, while the midrib of the "1898" 

 deep-cell foundation itself was but httle heavier than that of natural 

 worker comb, the comb built upon this foundation had a midrib 

 much heavier than that of the natural. The reason for this 

 will be given directly. The table also shows that the heavier the 

 midrib of the foundation, the heavier will be the midrib of the 

 comb upon the foundation. This would be a general rule that 

 might have exceptions. 



* This foundation was obtained for experiment in 1898, when it was compara- 

 tively a new product, so I have called it "1898" deep-cell foundation to distinguish 

 it from the foundation mentioned below. 



■f Samples of this foundation were first received in 1899, and I have designated 

 it the "1899" deep-cell foundation to distinguish it from the preceding. 



