36 BEEHIVES AND BEE KEEPERS* APPLIANCES. 



back drop over the floor-board, breaking the joint, 

 keeping the body-box in place, and rendering the 

 provision of plinths unnecessary. 



Although making the floor as detailed and illus- 

 trated entails a little extra work, the result is worth 

 the pains, as it will be practically an impossibility 

 for wet to drive in on to the main floor ; rain might 

 penetrate to the sunk floor, but it could not pass 

 the barrier raised by the higher back portion, con- 

 sequently the floor would be always dry. Match- 

 boarding might be used for the floor, wrought side 



Fig. 22. Floor-board. 



downwards, but the presence of so many joints 

 would give the bees a fine opportunity to daub the 

 floor with propolis. 



The lift N scarcely needs description. It is simply 

 a lidless and bottomless box, in size, internally, J in. 

 larger each way than the outside measurements of 

 the body-box, over whicli it is required to telescope. 

 Make sure that it is quite square, and put half a 

 dozen 2-in. nails in each joint so that it will stand 

 a fair amount of rough usage. Fix the fillets K \ in. 

 from either the top or bottom of the lift to form a 

 stop upon which it may rest in either position upon 



