THE 
Australian llctlutptrs’ 
JOURNAL. 
Vou I.-No. 8.] 
AUGUST, 1886. 
[Prick 6d. 
PROCEEDINGS of BEEKEEPERS' 
SOCIETIES. &c. 
ON THE MANUFACTURE OF COMB- 
FOUNDATION. 
A jiajier read by .Vr. B. A. Coleman, at the 
South Aiutralum Beekeepers' Association, 
8th July, 188G. 
“Although most of those present this evening 
are probably well acquainted with the appear- 
ance and advantages of comb-foundation, there 
may be some who have rather hazy ideas as to 
the exact meaning of the term, and for their 
benefit 1 shall preface what I have to say about 
its manufacture with a few remarks ns to its 
nature and use. 
“Comb-foundation is, or ought to be, com- 
posed entirely of wax. Substitutes, such as 
paraffin, have been tried, with which the pure 
wnx has been more or loss adulterated ; but 
although such foundation may be accepted by 
the bees, it will meltdown in the hot weather, 
involving combs and bees in a general ruin 
It consists, then, of a sheet of wax, upon both 
sides of which are impressions similar to the 
bottoms of the cells in natural comb — that is, 
three-sided — and so arranged that each inden- 
tation on one side of the sluet forms the raised 
point in the centre of three similar indentations 
on the other side — a beautiful arrangement, 
whieh is at once the strongest and the most 
economical, both of space and material, that 
could be devised. 
" These impressions arc produced by passing 
the sheet of wax between accurately engraved 
rollers, or in some machines by pressing it 
between engraved plates. Hie slhccts should, 
for use in brood frames, contain about enough 
wax to form the complete comb ; and the best 
foundation is that in which the bare of the cell 
is pressed as thin as possible, and the mnjority 
of the wax is plnced where it can be at once 
drawn out by the bees to form the sides of the 
cell. The chief advantage in the use of founda- 
tion lies in the saving of honey, and of time and 
labour on the part ofbet s, which may be devoted 
to the gathering of honey. This is explained by 
the fact that the secretion by the bees of a 
pound of wnx requires the consumption of 
a considerable quantity of honey — usually 
estimated to be at least 15 lbs., so that about 
30 lbs. must be consumed to completely fill a 
hive with comb, while, if supplied with 
foundation, the combs will usually be com- 
pleted in much less than half the time, and the 
yields of honey will be proportionately greater. 
In a poor season, also, it often happens that 
bees hived on foundation can obtain enough to 
mnintain themselves, and even to store a little, 
at a time, when, if they were obliged to build 
their ow n combs, they would be burely able to 
feed themselves, and could raise but little brood. 
" By the use- of comb-foundation we can 
ensure perfectly flat and regular coinba 
fastened to the frames all round — points of 
great consequence where rapidity of handling 
is desired : and we can also regulate and, if 
necessary, almost prevent, the production of 
drones, thus effi cling a considerable saving in 
honey. To raise sixteen drones requires as 
much room, and about tlie same quantity of food 
andattention, n« twenty-five woikers, and when 
raised the majority arc useless consumers, 
instead of productive labourers. 
“ For brood-combs, foundation having tho 
natural base is preferable, but, in some re- 
spects, that with the flat base answers tetter 
