25 



honey. Then for every sixteen pounds of honey it requires an ad- 

 ditional ten pounds of honey to produce the comb. 



The above figures certainly shows economy, saving and an insight to 

 the value of comb foundation in a monetary way. Comb foundation 

 consists of sheets of pure beeswax with the imprints of the base of 

 the embossed cells upon it. The evolution and process of its manu- 

 facture is too tedious, complicated and lengthy for explanation in 

 this bulletin. (The reader is referred to some manufacturers catalogs 

 or text book on apiculture.) There are a number of different grades 

 manufactured for different purposes. For use in brood combs, sheets 

 measuring about 6 square feet to the pound is best as the bees find nearly 

 enougt wax present to build the entire comb. For surplus honey in 

 sections or shallow frames for chunk honey production, the use of 

 thin sheets of comb foundation of the very best grade of light colored 

 beeswax should always be used in order to prevent the "fish bone" 

 toughness of a heavy artificial midrib. 



ADVANTAGES OF COMB FOUNDATION. 



There are three primary advantages derived in the use of full 

 sheet of comb foundation. It has already been mentioned that it re- 

 quires approximately ten pounds of honey to produce a pound of 

 wax. In comparing the present price of honey with the present price 

 of comb foundation there is a saving of more than twice the amount 

 of the cost of foundation. 



Secondly, the bees are given guides upon which to work. All 

 combs will be straight which really makes the handling of bees a 

 pleasure. Where combs are crooked, it is disagreeable to manipu- 

 late the frames and often times impossible to make an interior 

 examination. Leakage of honey in handling is prevented which 

 reduces robbing as well as being mussy and unpleasant to the opera- 

 tor. 



The third advantage probably more important than all combined 

 is the elimination of excessive drone comb. It has been already stat- 

 ed that the drones consume large quantities of honey both in the de- 

 veloping and adult stages and are non-producers. This necessarily 

 means a two-fold saving both in the amount of honey consumed and 

 labor in caring for the developing drones which will be utilized in 

 the production of workers, and in turn increases production. The 

 apiarist need not be alarmed in not having a sufficient number of 

 drones to fertilize the virgin queens in his apiary as there are always 

 plenty of drones reared in the corners or in cells that that have be- 

 come accidently enlarged. Only one drone is required in fertilization. 



The wax used in manufacturing foundation must be absolutely pure 

 beeswax. Many attempts in adulteration have been tried but none as yet 

 has proven successful. Bees seem to recognize their product from all 

 other compounds and will refuse to accept foundation where any adul- 

 teration with other mineral or vegetable waxes are used. They destroy 

 and remove such foundation from their hive. 



