32 A Modem Bee-Farm 



each following bee continues the process, until the cell is 

 nearly full, and the mouth of the same is gradually sealed over 

 with pure wax. It will be readily understood that were it not 

 for this process of moistening the sides of the cell, the honey 

 would not always adhere to the dry surface, and hence much 

 waste space would be the result. Much of the honiey does not, 

 however, remain where first placed. If the bees have room it 

 is distributed as much as possible, and when the excess of 

 moisture is evaporated it is carried above. 



' The bees which leave an air space just under the capping . 

 are Blacks, Carniolans, and some hybrids. Ligurians "give a 

 thinner Sealing and are not always so careful to retain the 

 clear space, but their comb honey is quite presentable, though 

 that of the former is preferred for its snowy whiteness. 

 Cyprians, Syrians, and Palestines, however, leave no space 

 whatever ; in fact, it would appear that they even moisten the 

 inside of the cappings, and fill the cell as tight "as possible, 

 hence their conib honey is not at all saleable. The reader 

 will therefore use his own judgment in the matter, and only 

 work those stocks for comb honey that are known to produce 

 the whitest comb surface. 



As soon as the wants of the rapidly increasing brood nest 

 are supplied stores begin to accumulate, and presently we find 

 the upper portion of the central combs filled with honey and 

 neatly capped, while one or more of the combs at one or 

 both sides will often be a solid block of honey. Meanwhile 

 the population has been entirely renewed by the brood hatch- 

 ing in successive batches, but presently no more store is to be 

 gathered, and then the drones are destroyed ; the size of the 

 brood nest is greatly diminished, until by September brood 

 rearing ceases entirely, unless there be a queen of the current 

 year, and in that case, with plenty of food on hand, it will be 

 continued until late into October. The whole of, the stores 

 accumulated by a swarm thus left to itself will seldom exceed 

 20 lbs., but let the reaejer compare this with the product of a 

 swarm worked as explained under " General Management," 



