WAX, 119 



MANNER OF WORKINO WAX. 



Transferring the swarms to different hives from one 

 to forty-eight hours after being hived, will show their 

 progress. I have found that wax ■ is attached to the 

 top of the hive at first promiscuously, that is, without 

 the least order, until some of the blocks or lumps 

 are sufficiently advanced for them to begin cells. The 

 scales of wax are welded on the edge quite thick, 

 without regard to the shape of the cell, then an ex- 

 cavation is made on one sida for the bottom of a cell, 

 and two others on the opposite side; the division 

 between them exactly opposite the centre of the first. 

 When this piece is an inch or two in length, two other 

 pieces at equal distances on each side are commenced. 

 If the swarm is large,' and honey abundant, it is 

 common for two pieces of comb to be started at one 

 time on different parts of the top ; the sheets in the 

 two places are often at right angles, or any other way, 

 just as chance happens to give direction. The little 

 lumps that are placed at random at first are all re- 

 moved as they advance. 



"While the combs are in progress, the edges are 

 always kept much the thickest, and the base of the 

 cell is worked down to the proper thickness with 

 their teeth, and polished smooth as glass. The ends 

 of the cell also, as they lengthen them, will always be 

 found much thicker than any other part of it when 

 - finished. 



When two combs approach each other in the mid- 

 dle of the hive at nearly right angles, an edge of 

 comb is left there ; but when an obtuse angle, the 



