i38 A Modern Bee-Farm 



assures herself that it is quite clean, and then beginning 

 at the base, with her tongue she commences to " paint " 

 the same with the honey slowly leaving that organ until 

 the first load completely covers the three squares. 

 Another load is brought, and the next bee continues the 

 operation of " painting " the sides of the cell, but only so 

 far as it is necessary to accommodate her own load which 

 she is slowly disgorging. In Uke manner each following 

 bee continues the process, until the cell is nearly full, 

 and the mouth of the same is gradually sealed over with 

 pure wax. It will be readily understood that were it not 

 for this process of moistening the sides of the cell, the 

 honey would not always adhere to the dry surface, and 

 hence much waste space would be the result. Much of 

 the honey does not, however, remain where first placed. 

 If the bees have room in the stock combs, it is distributed 

 as much as possible, and when the excess of moisture is 

 evaporated it is carried above. 



The bees that leave an air space just under the capping 

 are Blacks, Carniolans, and some hybrids. Ligurians give 

 a thinner sealing and are not always so careful to retain 

 the clear space, but their comb honey is quite presentable 

 and of a really fine appearance, though that of the former 

 is often preferred for its snowy whiteness. Cyprians, 

 Syrians, and Palestines, however, leave no space whatever ; 

 in fact, it would appear that they even moisten the inside 

 of the cappings, and fill the cell as tight as possible, 

 hence their comb honey is not at all saleable. The reader 

 will therefore use his own judgment in the matter, and 

 only work those stocks for comb honey that are known to 

 produce the whitest comb surface. 



As soon as the wants of the rapidly increasing brood 

 nest are supplied, stores begin to accumulate, and 

 presently we find the upper portion of the central comb 



