332 A Modern Bee-Farm 



the combs containing it were run down in a vessel with no 

 added water. The bees had access to both pollen and 

 water while building, and from 6 lbs. of honey fed to them 

 they gave 6^ ozs. of clear wax, with a balance of 15 ozs. of 

 honey left over. If I say an even pound left I shall be 

 nearer the mark, as the bees had the means of loading 

 themselves much more heavily than when the swarm was 

 made, as they were then forced to consume what they had 

 before commencing to build. Five pounds therefore 

 giving that quantity of wax, it would be supposed that it 

 takes 12J lbs. of honey to yield a pound. But our experi- 

 ment is not yet completed ; the bees had to live during 

 the twenty days taken to carry it out. Being in a con- 

 fined area during autumn when the weather was far from 

 being as warm as could be desired, the expense of pro- 

 duction would be very much more than when new combs 

 are built in the height of the season. The bees did not 

 get on so fast, especially as the best combs were removed 

 in time to prevent the production of brood, and towards 

 the last the supply of honey became very limited. 



To Qet at the Cost of Living:, 



after removing the last of the combs and balance of the 

 honey, the bees were given just i lb. of honey in a feeder 

 arranged so that they would not get it fast enough to go 

 on building. After the fourth day there were 6 ozs. left ; 

 but here is a little difficulty ; they could not require 10 

 ozs. in that time, and on removing the feeder with balance 

 of honey, and giving four empty combs they put about 

 2 ozs. into the cells. This would still leave 8 ozs. con- 

 sumed, or 2 ozs. per day while in active flight. Then for 

 the twenty days we have 40 ozs. consumed to preserve 

 life, which deducted from the 5 lbs. leaves 2 lbs. 8 ozs. 

 actually used in producing the t\ ozs. of wax ; thus, to 



