30 HIVES. 



tenth year without renewal of comb. A neighbor of 

 mine kept a stock twelve years in the same coinbs ; it 

 proved as prosperous as any. I have heard of their 

 lasting twenty,, and am inclined to believe it. 



CELLS LARGER THAN NECESSARY AT FIRST. 



The bees seem to make a provision for this emer- , 

 gency, the sheets of comb are farther apart than actually 

 necessary at first, the diameter of the cell is also a little 

 larger than the size of the young bee requires. Of this 

 we are certain — a great many young bees can be rais- 

 ed in a cell, and not be diminished in size, sufficient 

 to be detected. The bottom fills up faster than at the 

 sides, and as they do so the bees add a little to the 

 length, until the ends of these cells on two parallel 

 combs approximate too close to allow the bees to pass 

 freely ; before which time it is unnecessary to remove 

 comb for being old. 



EXPENSE OF RENEWING COMBS. 



One important item should be considered in this 

 matter, by those who are so eager for new combs. 

 It is doubtful whether one in 500 ever thought of 

 the expense of renewing comb. I find it estimated 

 by one writer,* that twenty-five lbs. of honey was 

 consumed in elaborating about half lb. wax. This 

 without doubt is an over estimate, but no one will deny 

 that some is used. I am satisfied of this much, from 

 actual experience, that every time the bees have to 

 renew their brood-combs in a hive, they would make 

 from ten to twenty-five lbs. in boxes, hence I infer that 

 • See Appendix of Cottage Bee-keeper, page 118. 



