CHAPTER V. 



FURNISHING AND STOCKING A BEEHIVE. 



BEING in possession of a hive, the bee keeper must 

 turn his thoughts towards the furnishing of it 

 suitably for the habitation of the bees. True, if 

 given the empty hive, the bees will themselves pro- 

 ceed to furnish it, but most probably in a style 

 quite at variance with the ideas of modern bee 

 keepers. 



In a bar-frame or movable-comb hive, it is of 

 great importance that each comb should be built 



-17*- 



5. 



c? 



tf%Ti* 



5X4 



7 v l" 

 ** 



Fig. 34. B.B.K.A. Standard Frame. 



quite straight in its frame, and that each frame 

 should be truly square and in fit condition for being 

 lifted from the hive without tearing asunder any 

 attachment either to another comb or to the hive 

 walls ; and this condition can be secured only by 

 correct initial management. It is an old truism 

 that " bees do nothing invariably ;; ; but as a 

 general rule, if they are properly started in the way 

 they should go, they will not make any serious 

 departure from it. 



