50 



FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



down upon the simplest of all. It is a piece of wire-cloth 

 just large enough to close the 12^ entrance and pro- 

 ject an inch or so up on the front of the hive. To make 

 the edges at the bottom and at the two ends more firm, 

 and to prevent them from raveling, the wire-cloth is cut 

 about 13)^x4, and about % of an inch folded over at 

 the bottom and at each end. These edges are folded over 

 the blade of a saw. When finished, the closer is 12}^ 

 inches long or a trifle less, so it will easily fit in the bot- 



Fig. 15— Rack for Hauling Bees. 



tom-board. The closer is put in place, a piece of lath l:3>^ 

 inches long is pushed up against it, and fastened by a nail 

 in the middle of the lath. Then to make it more secure, 

 a nail at each end is placed perpendicularly against the 

 lath and driven a short distance into the outer rim of the 

 bottom-board. The three nails used to fasten the lath 

 are finishing or wire casing nails 2^ inches long or 

 longer. Being so long and not driven in very deep, one 

 can generally pull them out with the fingers. 



