WAX. Sir,] 



of bees alone, that we weigh nothing else. It is evident, 

 if a few thousand weigh three pounds, when nothing is iij 

 their sacs, that they would weigh several pounds more, 

 when filled with honey. Hence, the fallacy of judging of 

 the size of a swarm hy weight, as one swarm might issue 

 with half as much honey as another. Perhaps eight pounds 

 would be a correct average for the weight of bees and ho- 

 ney, in large swarms. This honey whatever it amounts to, 

 cannot be stored, till combs are constructed to hold it. 

 This principle holds good till the hive is full. That is, 

 whenever they have more honey than the combs will hold, 

 and there is room, they will construct more comb. But 

 they seem to go no farther than this in comb-making. 

 However large the swarm may be, tliis compulsion appears 

 necessary to fill the hive. 



MAKENa DRONE CELLS. 



Drone-cells are seldom made in the top of the hive, but 

 some are generally joined on the worker cells, a little dis- 

 tance from the top ; others near the bottom. There seems 

 to be no rule about the number of such cells. Some hives 

 will contain twice as many as others. It may depend on 

 the yield of honey at the time ; if plenty, more drone-cells, 

 and vice versa. It has been suggested that more drone- 

 cells are built while filling the hive, when the swarm has 

 an old queen. If the hive be very large, no doubt an un- 

 profitable number' will be constructed. Where the large 

 and small cells join, there will be Some of irregular shape ; 

 some with four or five angles. Even where two combs of 

 cells, the same size, join, making a straight comb, they are 

 not always perfect. 



SOME WAX WASTED. 



When constructing comb, they are constantly .wasting 

 wax, either accidentally or voluntarily. The next morning 



