250 THE bee-keeper's guide; 



board ; cross-pieces of the same thickness as the corner posts, 

 three-sixteenths of an inch, are like the corner posts nailed on 

 each side connecting the boards of the fence. They do not 

 reach below the lowest board. Thus, these fences permit very 

 free communication (Figs. 106, 107). The whole distance at 

 the bottom of the sections has a wide bee-way which also 

 reaches part way up the ends. Of course, the cross-pieces are 

 exactly opposite the ends of the sections which they separate. 

 As these separators have spaces, they give ample connection 

 between sections, and favor rapid comb-building and honey- 

 storing. Fences are also placed outside the last row of sec- 

 tions. They secure added warmth by the double wall of bees, 

 and so better filled sections. No wonder that these plain sec- 

 tions and fences are rapidly coming into use. Their use, of 

 course, necessitates the use of cases with frames having no 

 top-bars to hold the sections and fences (Fig. 106). 



If we discard separators the old Heddon case is excellent ; 

 if we must use separators then the case with ± shaped tin 

 supports is perhaps the best in the market. The plain sections 

 are so admirable that they will be largely used ; then the frame 

 supports must be used. In any case a follower (Fig. 115, £>) 

 should be used to crowd the sections with separators close 

 together. This may be pushed by use of a thumb-screw (Fig. 

 114), wedge, or steel spring. 



Mr. Adam Grimm once wrote that boxes above the hive 

 should not be closely covered. As already stated, Mr. Heddon 

 puts no close cover over his sections. Mr. Hasty is pleased 

 with simply a cloth, cheap muslin, above his sections, and a 

 board cover to protect from rains. Such ventilation of the 

 sections is scientific as well as practical. 



All apiarists who desire to work for comb honey that will 

 sell, will certainly use the sections, and adjust them by use of 

 either frames or cases. Each method has its friends, though 

 I think cases or supers are justly taking the lead. 



SEPARATORS. 



These may be of wood or tin. While the tin were first 

 used, and do work well, the wood seem to be growing in favor, 

 and seem likely wholly to replace the tin. The wood are poorer 



