Apiary Experiments. 
5 
Table Showing the Weight, in Grains per Square Inch, of Different 
Kinds of Artificial Foundation, and of the Midribs 
of Comb Built upon Each. 
Very Heavy 
Foundation 
Medium 
Brood 
Foundation 
1898 
Deep-Cell 
Foundation* 
Thin Super 
Foundation 
Extra Thin 
Foundation 
f 1899 
Deep-Cell 
Foundation 
a 
Sh 
3 £> 
■sa 
Entire 
Foundation 
Midribs of 
Comb on 
Entire 
Foundation 
Midribs of 
Comb on 
Entire 
Foundation 
Midribs of 
Foundation 
Midribs of 
Comb on 
Entire 
Foundation 
Midribs of 
Comb on 
Entire 
Foundation 
Midribs of 
Comb on 
* 
Entire 
Foundation 
Midribs of 
Comb on 
o u 
X © 
J2 -M 
a 
H. 12. 
10.10 
8.80 
6.87 
5.55 
2.55 
4.10 
4.20 
3.70 
3.64 
3.12 
5.12 
3.74 
3.20 
L. 10. 
7.00 
8.10 
3.50 
5.38 
2.40 
3.00 
4.00 
2.40 
3.53 
2.75 
4.44 
2.83 
1.65 
Ave. 11. 
8.00 
8.40 
5.18 
5.46 
2.50 
3.44 
4.07 
3.00 
3.60 
2.95 
4 50 
3.22 
2.10 
Heavier 
Than 
Natural 
Midrib. 
5.90 
3.08 
.40 
1.34 
.90 
.85 
1.12 
The accompanying table gives, in the upper line, the heaviest 
weights found ; in the second line the lightest weights ; and in the 
third line the average weights, computed from a good number of ex¬ 
amples in each case. The excess in weight above that of the mid¬ 
rib of natural worker comb is given in the bottom line. 
The differences in weight between these foundations and the 
midribs of comb built upon them do not represent the weight 
of the wax removed from the midrib of the foundation bv the bees, 
as the foundation has short cell walls which are also thinned. 
These may be seen by looking at illustrations of sections of founda¬ 
tion in Plates 2 and 4. It will be seen by the table that none of the 
comb built on foundation has a midrib as light as that of the nat¬ 
ural worker comb, though, in some cases, the midribs of comb on 
thin and extra thin super foundations and on the “1899” deep-cell 
foundation are but little heavier than those of natural comb. 
It will also be noticed that, while the midrib of the “1898” 
deep-cell foundation itself was but little heavier than that of natural 
worker comb, the comb built upon this foundation had a midrib 
much heavier than that of the natural. The reason for this 
will be given directly. The table also shows that the heavier the 
midrib of the foundation, the heavier will be the midrib of the 
comb upon the foundation. This would be a general rule that 
might have exceptions. 
* This foundation was obtained for experiment in 1898, when it was compara¬ 
tively a new product, so I have called it “1898” deep-cell foundation to distinguish 
it from the foundation mentioned below. 
t Samples of this foundation were first received in 1899, and I have designated 
it the “1899” deep-cell foundation to distinguish it from the preceding. 
