With respect to the formation of wax, it is known that bees are often hard pressed to get sufficient nectar; and I am informed by Mr.Tegetmeier that it has been experimentally proved that from twelve to fifteen pounds of dry sugar are consumed by a hive of bees for the secretion of a pound of wax; so that a prodigious quantity of fluid nectar must be collected and consumed by the bees in a hive for the secretion of the wax necessary for the construction of their combs.

Moreover, many bees have to remain idle for many days during the process of secretion.

A large store of honey is indispensable to support a large stock of bees during the winter; and the security of the hive is known mainly to depend on a large number of bees being supported.

Hence the saving of wax by largely saving honey, and the time consumed in collecting the honey, must be an important element of success any family of bees.

Of course the success of the species may be dependent on the number of its enemies, or parasites, or on quite distinct causes, and so be altogether independent of the quantity of honey which the bees can collect.