29 



PART II.— PRACTICAL NOTES. 



THE USE OF COMB-FOUNDATION. 



The success of modem apiculture hinges almost entirely in the first 

 place on securing complete control over the breeding, and this can be 

 obtained only by compelling the bees to build whatever kind of comb 

 is desired. Under natural conditions, or when in hives and allowed 

 freedom to construct their combs, they invariably build a goodly pro- 

 portion of drone-comb, which is subsequently utilized for breeding 

 drones. This accounts for the large number of drones in hives where 

 no attempt has been made to control breeding. Drones, as previously 

 indicated, are non-producers — that is to say, they do not gather nectar, 

 or even, so far as we know, do any work in the hives. They consume a 

 large quantity of food gathered by the workers ; and where many are 

 present the yield of honey from that hive, and consequently the profit, 

 will be considerably curtailed. Some drones are needed for the im- 

 pregnation of young queens, but it is found in practice that a sufficient 

 number for this purpose will be bred, even when the breeding of them 



Fig. 26. — Frame fitted with Foundation. 



is restricted as much as possible, by making the fullest use of worker- 

 comb foundation. 



The difference between worker and drone comb is in the size of the 

 cells, the former measuring slightly over five to the inch, and the latter 

 a little over four. The proportions are shown in the illustration. The 

 comb-foundation obtained from manufacturers is impressed with the 

 bases of worker-cells, so that it is seldom, unless by accident some 

 portion has stretched, that the bees build other than worker-comb on 

 it. The illustrations will make this clear. Fig. 27 shows a perfect 

 worker-comb built out on a full sheet of comb-foundation, while Fig. 28 

 exhibits the result of the breaking-away of a portion and the stretching 

 of another portion, due to careless fixing of what was originally comb- 

 foundation. These are very interesting reproductions from photographs 

 taken specially for the purpose of this bulletin. To the right of Fig. 28 

 can be seen where the bees took advantage of the accident to build 

 drone-comb, and also where on, the upper left centre the original worker- 



