66 Texas Department op Agriculture. 



forms into little scales as it comes in contact with the air in the wax 

 pockets. These are removed by the bees' legs, and moulded into 

 shape where comb is being built. In this way thousands of these lit- 

 tle scales are formed and added where needed. Requiring the con- 

 sumption of much honey and time to produce a poimd of wax, it is an 

 expensive product and this is why honey with the comb costs more 

 than that which has been extracted from the comb. 



In the center of the perpendicular combs, as they hang in the 

 hive, is a "septum" or "mid rib," from which the walls of the six- 

 sided cells extend. The smaller sized cells in the comb are the worker 

 cells, and occupy the largest part of the main comb surface, while 

 the larger drone celk are generally situated nearer the lower edges. 

 The worker cells measure five to the linear inch. There are nearly 

 29 worker cells to the square inch on each side of the comb, making 

 almost 58 cells to the square inch of comb. There are four drone 

 cells to the linear inch; about 18 to the square inch on one side and 

 36 cells to the square inch of comb. The two sizes are easily distin- 

 guished, 



As few drone cells as possible should be allowed, as the more drone* 

 reared by a colony the more valueless consumers there are to use 

 up surplus honey. Enough of them wiU be reared to fertilize the 

 queens in spite of this precaution. To suppress them, as much a* 

 possible of the drone comb should be cut out and replaced with worker 

 comb, which can be easily patched in. The use of full sheets of comb 

 foundation at all times and under all conditions, will prevent the 

 bees from building drone cells. 



Newly built combs are pure white, but become darker with age, 

 from the continuous travel over them by the bees and the constant ad- 

 dition of discolored bits of wax mixed with propolis and other foreign 

 matter. When brood is reared in them, the accumulation of cocoons 

 left by each hatching bee hastens the darkening of the combs, and very 

 old brood combs finally become almost black in color. 



Although there is a difference of opinion as to how many years 

 such combs may be used satisfactorily for brood rearing, on acr 

 count of the constant accumulation of the cocoons, causing the septum, 

 or mid rib, of the combs to become thicker, thus lessening the length 

 of the cells to a certain extent, it is well that they should not be used 

 for brood rearing too long. 



RENDERING BEESWAX. 



Beeswax is rendered by melting the combs and bits of wax that 

 accumulate. It is a valuable by-product of the apiary, and there is 

 always a good market for it at 20 to 30 cents a pound, according to 

 quality. Every bit of comb and scrapings from the hives and 

 frames should be carefully saved, as the wax from these pays well for 

 the trouble. The wax in the general market is of all shapes and sizes 

 of cakes and is of any color, from white, yellow, brown, and some- 

 times black, depending on the method employed and the amount of 

 bleaching received during its rendering, or the amount of foreign 

 matter and dirt incorporated with it. 



