Properly used, comb foundation is both a time saver and a money maker to the beekeeper. In a state of nature the bees build their combs in irregular fashion with a large portion composed of drone cells which are larger than worker cells in size. When Langstroth invented his hive with movable combs, he made it possible for the beekeeper to secure control of the activities of his bees. Until the invention of comb foundation, however, it was difficult for the beekeeper to get the bees to build their combs straight in the frames provided for them. They would often build them crosswise of the hive or fasten two frames together thus making it impossible to remove the frame. In the building of the comb, a cell on one side is opposite a portion of three others on the other side. The cells are hexagonal, the six sided cavity fitting against others surrounding in such a way as to leave no waste space.

These cells are built in two sizes, the smaller one for the rearing of worker bees and the larger one for drones or males. Accommodation cells of imperfect shape are also built where the two sizes come together. All serve for the storage of honey when not in use for the rearing of brood when they serve as nurseries for the growing young.

Comb foundation is made by rolling beeswax into thin sheets and impressing it with the size and shape of the bases of the cells. By placing this thin sheet of wax in the frame and hanging it in the hive, the beekeeper provides the bees with foundation on which to build the comb. Because it hangs straight in the frames, the bees are compelled to build straight combs and the beekeeper can remove them at will to see what is going on in any part of the hive.

Comb foundation is made by impressing thin sheets of beeswax with the size and shape of the base of worker cells.

Because the size of the base is the same as that used for worker cells, the bees build worker combs instead of drone cells which are larger. Since the drones store no honey but are heavy consumers of the stores gathered by their sisters, it is important to the beekeeper to rear as few of them as possible. By rearing more worker bees which add to the store, instead of drones which reduce it, he insures a much larger return in surplus honey.

Carelessness in the use of foundation is one of the most common causes of failure among beekeepers. In the years when the author was State Apiarist of Iowa, he was often amazed at the extent of waste because of carelessness on the part of beekeepers, regarding their combs. In hundreds of hives he found such poor combs that success would be impossible. In some cases as much as a quarter or perhaps a third of the comb area would be composed of drone comb. In such a hive the bees would raise so many drones that all surplus honey would be consumed except in times of unusually heavy honeyflows. Then many of the combs had stretched from the unsupported weight of the honey until the upper cells were so badly distorted as to be unfit for brood rearing. In such hives there was not sufficient space available in worker combs to rear a working force of sufficient size to gather a profitable crop of honey.

By removing these poor combs and replacing them with frames with full sheets of foundation at the proper time, the beekeeper was able to make a great change in his prospects. A good brood comb is the most valuable asset of the beekeeper for upon it depends the ability of the colony to rear sufficient worker bees to bring in the harvest when it comes. When a swarm settles in a cavity in a hollow tree where they are undisturbed by man, they begin at once to build combs. The queen is impatient to begin laying and the bees prepare cells of worker cells as fast as possible to accommodate her. When they have built enough cells to meet her immediate requirements, they begin to build drone cells which take less wax and are accordingly sooner constructed. Thus, if the queen is old and failing and does not lay heavily, the bees may build but a comparatively small amount of worker comb and fill the rest of the space with drone comb which is used for storage of honey. Here we find the prosperity of the colony limited for the future by the building only of enough worker cells to provide for an old queen.

Empty extracting comb built on full sheet of foundation.

The beekeeper uses full sheets of foundation in all his frames to insure that all his combs will be good ones. There will always be some small areas of drone comb in the corners of the combs and these will be sufficient to rear enough drones to meet any necessary purpose. Only a few drones are needed to mate the young queens and since they serve no other purpose in the hive, the smaller the number, the better.

Often the inexperienced beekeeper will use only a narrow starter of foundation along the top of the frames. This will induce the bees to build straight combs but it does not reduce the amount of drone comb which they build. A half sheet of foundation is even worse than a narrow strip for the bees usually begin building drone cells as soon as they reach the limits of the foundation.

Likewise it is common practice to put a small starter in the section boxes to save the cost of the wax. Here again it is better to use a full size sheet. The honeyflow is often of short duration and everything which the beekeeper can do to save time and labor for the bees will greatly increase the size of the crop secured. If one uses only a small starter an inch or so across, it takes only a very few bees to cover it and others will lose time waiting for comb building to reach a point where there is storage available for the incoming nectar. No other investment which the beekeeper can make will pay such large dividends as to use as much foundation as the bees are ready to occupy when the flow is on.

Some experience is necessary to know just when to give the foundation to the bees. If one waits too long he loses much of the benefit. If he gives it at a time when the bees are gathering no honey and are not ready to build comb, they will gnaw along the wires used to support the wax and are likely to do some damage before the time comes for them to start building. Foundation should be given to the bees when there is nectar to be had in the field. When new honey is coming to the hives, conditions are favorable for comb building.

When hiving swarms, it is necessary to have hives ready, with frames filled with sheets of foundation. Unless the wax is well supported by wires the weight of the bees often breaks down the soft sheets of wax and leaves things in a mess. Established beekeepers who have plenty of equipment will have some drawn combs at hand and these are, of course, better for all purposes. If one has a set of drawn combs on which to hive the swarm and can give a second hive-body filled with frames and foundation to be set on top, his new combs will be drawn under the most favorable conditions.

Extracting comb filled with sealed honey.

Combs drawn above the brood nest of a strong colony during a honeyflow are likely to be built down to the bottom bar and be as near perfect as can be secured.

For every dollar invested in foundation, PROPERLY USED, the beekeeper should get back many dollars in increased yield of honey. To learn just how and when to use this foundation is one of the important problems of the beginner.