AUSTRALASIAN BEE MANUAL 57 



We have now gone through the whole hive, with the 

 exception of the frames, and if every part is made 

 according to the foregoing instruction, they will fit 

 each other like a glove, and when two or three-story 

 hives are required, it is only a question of having extra 

 bodies- similar to the one already described. 



HALF-STORY BODIES. 



These are made in exactly the same way as the full 

 bodies, but only Sfin. deep, and, as already explained, 

 may be used for either extracted or comb honey. 



NUCLEUS HIVES. 



These are small hives generally used when queen 

 rearing, and made of different sizes and shapes to suit 

 the ideas of the queen breeder. By far the handiest 

 are those made to take the regular frames used in the 

 apiary and of a size that will take from two to four. 

 They may be made out of light material, and in a more 

 simple manner than the ordinary hive. The bottom 

 board can be nailed on, and the entrance cut out of one 

 end of hive ; the figure does not show the bottom board. 

 The width inside should be 4fin. or 5in. to take three 

 frames. A full explanation of the use of it is given in 

 the chapter on queen rearing. 



OBSERVATORY HIVES. 



An observatory hive stocked with bees during the 

 busy season is always attractive to non-bee-keeping 

 friends and visitors. They are now supplied by hive 

 manufacturers at very reasonable prices, and can be 

 readily stocked in the summer season from one's own 

 apiary by transferring a frame well stocked with bees 

 and the queen from one of the ordinary hives. 



PAINTING HIVES. 



It is always advisable when putting hives together 

 to give the joints a coat of paint and to paint the whole 

 of the hives three coats before using them. The paint 



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