196 AUSTRALIAN BEE LORE AND BEE CULTURE- 



vision of the bees is virtually tli>e bottom of the hive. The narrow- 

 er, therefore, this bar is the less is the vision of the comb-building 

 bees obstructed. Shallow frames with narrow bottom bars are 

 great aids in obtaining this consideration — that is in securing all 

 sides of the comb to the sides of the frame. Securing the brood- 

 comb to the bottom bar is not so essential as in the frames used in 

 the supers, the amount as well as the method of handling the 

 frames used in these two portions of the hive differ greatly. 



The ends, too, have undergone various modifications with the 

 view of obtaining the greatest amount of ease in working and aiding 

 the bees in their labours, and at the same time giving them man's 

 ideas of what bee comforts and ease should be. At one time we 

 had what was termed Quinby's close-end frames. These were 

 similar to the Heddon frames that are now struggling into use, 

 but differed in measurement. The Heddon ends are 5^ inches long, 

 and full width throughout. The Quinby differs from it only in 

 being nearly double the length (11 inches.) The latter rested on 

 the bottom boards, leaving bee-space beneath the bottom bar, and, 

 like the former, fitted closely to the sides of the hive. The sup- 

 posed advantage of the close-ends is correct spacing throughout the 

 entire depth of the frame. Oftentimes if frames are not put to- 

 gether correctly they twist, and although they may be correct at 

 the top, they are many degrees out of plumb at the sides. In this 

 manner, although the bars may be properly spaced, the bottom 

 bars frequently touch. Under such conditions bees unite the 

 combs, thus gre,atly obstructing the free removal of the frames. 

 One of the uses of the closed ends was to mitigate this, but unless 

 the hive stood perfectly level it would fail in that one object. 



The Quinby oblong hive differs from the modern Langstroth 

 only in length, being 7J in. shorter but 2 in. deeper — that is, nearly 

 48 in. less in superficial measurement. Its depth is the principal 

 objection. 



The Adair is another frame of the Langstroth type. In length 

 it is 13^ in., and 11| in. deep, or superficially about 48 in. less than 

 the Langstroth— the same as between the latter and the Quinby, 

 and, of course, on account of its depth has the same objection. 



The Gallup and the American are identical in shape, both 

 square, the latter being 12 in. by 12 in., and the former 11^ in. by 

 11|^ in. What the advantage is in the difference of | in. every way 

 is hard to guess. 



There is another frame, similar in form to these two latter, 



