214 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
ascertainable, it is evident that we have only to 
discover the exact depth of the cell walls, to be able 
to calculate the amount of surface these contain on 
any given area of comb ; but the structure of comb 
does not quite so easily submit to estimation as 
some would imagine, the apparently simple question 
of cell depth having too many mathematical subtleties 
about it to make it fitting to fully discuss it here. 
It will be seen by B (Fig. 62), representing the side 
view of the opened-out cell walls, that those of each 
cell meet the median plane of the midrib (m) in three 
points (for the top and bottom lines of the Figure join 
when folded round in the natural position), and that 
between these the cell sides fall short of the middle 
line. The cell walls do not, therefore, make up the 
full width of the comb, part of which (represented by 
the spaces s, s, s) is filled out by the inclined rhombs 
forming the bases. Calculation shows the deficiency 
to be about -gV* ** cells are -kin. in 
diameter, or — which is the same thing — the perpen- 
dicular lines into which their sides are convertible 
3^in. apart, and the comb lin. thick, it is clear 
that every square inch of comb will contain -Iy of 
ten square inches of ceil wall. To this the midrib 
must be added, the area of which, as consisting 
of rhombs inclined to the cell face, must be greater 
than the area of the comb itself, the excess being 
* The general formula lor all comb, drone or worker, I find to be — 
tan. iQdeg. 28min. x cell diameter 
\/ 3 (comb thickness) 
The whole calculation is too lengthy to be introduced ; but a study of a 
well-made piece of comb or foundation, some knowledge of trigonometry, 
and a little patience, will enable the reader so disposed to verify it. 
