2o8 A Modem Bee-Farm 



to preserve life, whicji deducted from the 5 lbs. leaves 2 lbs.. 

 8 ozs. actually used in producing the 6J ozs. of wax ; thus, to 

 produce i lb. of wax 6f lbs. of honey would be consumedi 



When the cost of -living was carried out the bee's were 

 reduced about one-third, so that 2 ozs. per day should be 

 within the mark. In the height of the season with everything- 

 favourable it is only reasonable to say that the cost of pro-. • 

 duction is really much less, and probably less than 5 lbs. of ' 

 honey are consumed in actually producing one pound of wax^ 



Comparative Cost. • 



In the course of the' experiment I found that about eight 

 standard frames (14 inches by 8|- inches) of hew comb will 

 give one pound of refined wax. It is surprising what a large 

 amount of refuse is left after melting the most beautifully 

 white combs, so that the actual weight of wax obtained is . 

 much less thatthat of the original combs. Observe this : one 

 pound of wax, costing the producer less than is. 5d., fills eight 

 frames with finished comb. To do this with^ foundation i^ lb.. 

 of that article is required, costing in hard cash at the least 

 2s. 6d. for the base only ; to this the bees add considerable of 

 their own production before the combs can be' completed ; 

 making the total cost much over 3s. Facts are stubborn 

 things, and cannot be ignored. 



