BEES 311 
9. Honeycomb.—Making wax is one of the duties of 
the worker bees. They manufacture it from their food. 
It is really a secretion from certain glands in the abdo- 
men. The bees arrange wax in slabs and pack hexagonal 
cells all over it. The result is the honeycomb. They 
now have a place to store the honey they gather and tiny 
incubators for the eggs when the queen lays them. 
When the honey cells are filled they are sealed with 
wax. The brood cells are sealed with both nectar and 
wax. 
The work of bees may be greatly facilitated by providing comb 
foundations in the hives. These are strong sheets of wax with the 
imprint of the base of bee cells upon both sides. Except for wild 
bees, these artificial foundations are now provided for all domestic 
hives. Successful bee keeping is due more largely to the skillful use 
of artificial combs than to any other single factor in the manage- 
ment of the hive. 
ApPIARY SHOWING HIVES AND THEIR ARRANGEMENT 
The beekeeper who owns this apiary devotes his entire time and attention 
to his bees. 
10. Hives.—Various kinds of hives have been provided 
by manufacturers, so that to-day the selection of a type is 
more the result of taste or choice than of merit. Practi- 
cally all modern hives are good. The common require- 
ments are that the hive shall have a movable roof and a 
movable comb frame. Between the combs there should 
be space enough to let two bees pass. Most hives are 
