236 THE bee-kbeper's Gxm>E; 



frames stand side by side, the ends are close, while half -inch 

 openings extend between the top and bottom bars of adjacent 

 frames. The bottom-bars, too, are one-fourth of an inch from 

 the bottom-board. Tacked to the bottom-board, in line with 

 the position of the back end-bars of the frames, is an inch 

 strip of sheet-iron (Fig. 100, b, b) sixteen inches in length. 

 One-third of this strip, from the front edge back, is bent over 

 so it lies not quite in contact with the second third, while the 

 posterior third receives the tacks which hold it to the bottom- 

 board. Now, when in use, this iron flange receives the hooks 

 on the corners of the frames, so that the frames are held 

 firmly, and can be moved only back and sidewise. In looking 

 at the bees we can separate the combs at once, at any place. 

 The chamber can be enlarged or diminished simply by adding 

 or withdrawing frames. As the hooks are on all four corners 

 of the frames, the frames can be either end back, or either side 

 up. This arrangement, which permits the inversion of the 

 frames, is greatly praised by those who have tried it. It was 

 claimed by the Hetheringtons years ago that by turning these 

 frames bottom up the comb would be fastened above and 

 below, and the bees, in their haste to carry the honey from the 

 bottom of the frames, would rush at once into the sections. 

 Boards with iron hooks close the side of the brood cavity, 

 while a cloth covers the frames. 



The entrance (Fig. 100, e) is cut in the bottom-board, as 

 already explained, except that the lateral edges are kept 

 parallel. A strip of sheet-iron (Fig. 100, d) is tacked across 

 this, on which rest the ends of the front end-bars of the frames 

 which stand above, and underneath which pass the bees as 

 they come to and go from the hive. A box, without bottom 

 and with movable top, covers all, leaving a space from four 

 to six inches above and on all sides between it and the frames. 

 This gives chance to pack with chaff in winter, and for side 

 and top storing in sections in summer. 



The Bingham hive (Fig. 101) is not only remarkably sim- 

 ple, but is as remarkable for its shallow depth, the frames 

 being only five inches high. These have no bottom-bar. The 

 end-bars are one and a half inches wide, and the top-bar 

 square. The nails that hold the end-bars pass into the end of 



