THE EVOLUTION OF THE BEE-HIVE. 



199 



gave a hive to the world that left the hands of the great master 

 in so perfect a form that even the details remain unchanged by 

 many of our first bee-keepers. And up to date the Langstroth 

 frame has undergone no alteration either in form or measure- 

 ment." The material for its construction should be American 

 red-wood, or any other wood of a light character, well seasoned, 

 and free from knots. These two latter are of importance. If 

 the wood is not properly seasoned, it is very liable to warp or 

 twist and thus throw everything out of plumb. A knot in a thin 

 top or side bar very frequently causes the destruction of a comb 

 by breakage at the knot-hole. 



New Comb. 



Measurements of a Langstroth Frame. — The wood in all 

 the Langstroth bars was originally of uniform thickness, |^-inch, 

 and also a uniform width, J - inch, i.e., inch stuff was used 

 which, after dressing, reduced it to the required width. Top 

 bar, 191^ inches; each end bar, 9 in.; and the bottom bai, 

 17| inches. All these measurements are from out to out, 



and this will be followed in regard to all other pattern frames, 

 except when otherwise stated. It is almost impossible to put 

 these frames together to the required accuracy excepting with 

 the aid of a frame-block or other gauge. 



After the ends are nailed securely to the top bar, there must 

 be a shoulder of | inch. Thisi gives bee-space between the side 

 of the hive and the end bar of the frame, and h a^n inch to rest 

 on the rebate in the end of the hive. 



Of late years all the original Langstroth bars have undergone 

 modifications. What was said to have "left the hands of the great 

 master in so perfect a form" does not hold good to-day as regards 

 certain details. The top bar has increased in thickness. The 

 thin top bars, esipecially when used in the supers, were very liable 

 to sag by reason of the weight of the honey. I have known the 

 same result to take place in the frames of the brood-chambers; 

 in this way too much space is left between the top bar oT the one 



