WAX. 
120 
edges are generally joined, making a sheet of crooked 
comb. It is evident where the two combs join, there 
must be some irregular cells unfit for rearing brood. 
ARE CROOKED COMBS A DISADVANTAGE ? 
These few irregular cells have been considered a 
great disadvantage. It is thought, or pretended, that 
there is a vast difference between the prosperity of a 
stock with straight combs and one with crooked ones. 
To avoid them, or cause the bees to make them all 
straight, has given rise to much contrivance, as if a 
few such cells could effect much. Suppose there 
were a dozen sheets of comb in a hive, and each one 
had a row or more of such irregular cells from top to 
bottom, what proportion would they hold to those 
that were perfect ? Perhaps not one in a thousand. 
Hence we infer that in a hive of the proper size, the 
difference in amount of brood never could be per- 
ceived. This is the only difference it can make, be- 
cause such cells can be used for storing honey as well 
as others. But sometimes there will be corners and 
spaces not wide enough for two combs, and too wide 
for one of the proper thickness for breeding. As bees 
use all their room economically, and generally at the 
best advantage, a thick comb will be the result. It is 
said they never use such thick combs for breeding. 
How are the facts? I have just such a space in a 
glass hive ; one comb two inches thick. How is it 
managed? Towards fall this sheet is filled with 
honey ; the cells outside are lengthened until there is 
just room for a bee to pass between them and the 
