120 WAX. 



edges are generally joined, making a sheet of crooked 

 comb. It is evident where the two combs join, there 

 must be some irregular cells unfit for rearing brood. 



ARE CROOKED COMBS A DISADVANTAGE? 



These few irregular cells have been considered a 

 great disadvantage. It is thought, or pretended, that 

 there is a vast difference between the prosperity of a 

 stock with straight combs and one with crooked ones. 

 To avoid them, or cause the bees to make them a,ll 

 straight, has given rise to much contrivance, as if a 

 few such cells could effect much. Suppose there 

 were a dozen sheets of comb in a hive, and each one 

 had a row or more of such irregular cells from top to 

 bottom, what proportion would they hold to those 

 that were perfect ? Perhaps not one in a thousand. 

 Hence we infer that in a hive of the proper size, the 

 difference in amount of brood never could be per- 

 ceived. This is the only difference it can make, be- 

 cause such cells can be used for storing honey as well 

 as others. But sometimes there will be corners and 

 spaces not wide enough for two combs, and too wide 

 for one of the proper thickness for breeding. As bees 

 use all their room economically, and generally at the 

 best advantage, a thick comb will be the result. It is 

 said they never use such thick combs for breeding.. 

 How are the facts? ' I have just such a space in a 

 glass hive ; one comb two inches thick. , How is it 

 managed? Towards fall this sheet is filled with 

 honey ; the cells outside are lengthened until there is 

 just room for a bee to pass between them and the 



