THE BEE-KEEPERS* REVIEW 57 



used, and which is simple and effective when used for swarm con- 

 trol, and I could not make a better one at the present time; yet I 

 have iicxer described it for public use, because it is one of those 

 special articles which require time and money to make, and because 

 the I'.-inciples on which it is based can be carried out with some of 

 the l-(>ttom boards already in common use. 



THE BEST BOTTOM BOARD TO USB. 



'J he l)est one for that purpose is one which I think is made by 

 i:early all bee supply firms, and is the one having a J/g bee space on 

 one side, and a ^4, space on the other, with the open or entrance 

 ends facing- in opposite directions, and the side parts of the rimsi 

 extending the full length of the board. The bottom board of this 

 kind made by the Root Company has the side rims cut short at the 

 length of the brood chamber only, so that while it can be used for 

 this plan of swarm control, by making the other fixtures suited to 

 it, it is decidedly inconvenient to tier up with in the cellar, for 

 wintering with the bottom boards left on, for with such covers as 

 the Excelsior the back end of the hive drops down, slanting the 

 hive toward the back end, and that slant increases with each hive 

 added to the pile. 



HOW TO USE THESE BOTTOM BOARDS. 



To use these bottom boards for swarm control, take three of 

 them, and after removing the hive to be operated on from its stand, 

 place one of them on the stand in its natural position, with the %■ 

 side up, on this, also in its natural position place another with the 

 }i side up. There is now between the two bottoms an open space 

 or runway 1^ in, high and as wide as the bottoms, with an open- 

 ing at the front and back ends, of Js i"- hy the width of the bot- 

 tom boards. 



Next take one of the fixtures shown in cut Xo. 1. in which two 

 of the fixtures are shown, one in position for use, and the other 

 hanging on the front of the hive so as to show its construction, 

 and the two bent tins which slip between the edges of the two 

 buttons on the stand to hold the fixture in place when in use. 



The fixture is just a wooden rim with screen wire nailed on 

 the front side of it, and two or more notches cut in the upper edge 

 next the wire, big enough for bees to pass through, drones and all : 

 on the back side, or that side which goes next to the ends of the 

 two bottom boards, are nailed two bent tins, to stick between the 

 ends of the two bottoms so that the fixture will stay put when in 

 use. The fixture is made just high enough so that its upper edge, 

 wken in place, comes just even or fiush with the floor surface of 

 the upper of the two bottoms. 



