MOVABLE BOTTOM BOARDS LANGSTKOTH SIMPLICITY HIVE. 



145 



especially where the bee-keeper is so fortunate as to be in posses- 

 sion of a small treadle circular saw, or so clever as to make one 

 out of the remains of a corn sheller and an old sewing-machine. 

 I have seen a very serviceable circular saw so constructed. The 

 following are the dimensions for a full-size standard Langstroth 

 bar-frame : — 



A B 



A B, out to out, 9 i-S inches ; C A, out t,j out, 9 inches. The top bar 

 must be 19J inches, i.e., out to out of C D, 17 5-8 inches; two 

 bee-si)aces, one on either side, 3 inch, equals ^ inch ; plus the J-inch 

 rebate on each end of the hive equals i inch ; total, ig 1-8 inches 

 (17 5-8 plus J plus I plus I plus i equals 19 1-8 inches). 



From these measurements it will be seen no note has been 

 taken of inside measurements. These will be always regulated 

 by the thickness of the bars. It is not imperative that any inside 

 dimensions should be adhered to, but the outside measurements 

 should be scrupulously followed. 



he width of the top and side bars should be 7-8 inch, but the 

 bottom bar not more than ^ inch. In fact, the narrower it is 

 the better, so long as there is substance sufficient for nailing pur- 

 poses is all that is needed. A thin bottom bar has its advantages — 

 bees, in building their comb from the top bar downwards, and no 

 matter in what position the hive stands, will be sure to 

 build their combs i)iumb. In completing their combs bees always 

 leave bee-space between the base of it apd the bottom of the hive- 

 In the construction of comb the mid-wall — that portion of the 

 comb forming the base of the two sets of cells — is the first con- 

 structed, and is always kept a little in advance of the construc- 

 tion of tlie side walls of tlie cells, giving the comb, as the building 

 advances, the appearance of an axe-edge, being bevelled on both 



