29 



Fig 2 



FigS. 



Fig. 1 shows a cross section of the end board of a hive as it comes from the 

 factory, Fig. 2 how it looks when the rabbet tin is in position. 



Speaking of frames calls to recollection the fact that the inspectors came 

 across a dozen instances where the pieces had been simply stuck together, 

 not nailed, merely pushed into place with the very natural result that in 

 the hive they had all fallen apart. It is really surprising to find that there 

 are bee-men so constituted that they will buy first-class hives, frames and 

 full sheets of foundation, then practically waste all this good material by 

 neglecting to nail the frames. There is only one possible excuse, the lack 

 of the proper size of nail. It is a pleasure to be able to announce that the 

 biggest beeware factory in Canada has decided to supply from now on suf- 

 ficient nails for all the parts sent out. This is the custom elsewhere, born 

 of necessity, for the first example that was met was on a ranch, thirty 

 miles from the nearest hardware store. The inspector was anxious to put 

 the frames into good condition but it was problematical if nails small 

 enough could be found within a distance of ten miles. 



PUTTING HIVES TOGETHER. 



First, get the hive, and get it early. One inspector smiles when he re- 

 calls an incident that happened about the end of June, when he met the 

 owner of about a dozen hives driving rapidly along the road. He pulled up 

 to say he was hurrying to the nearest town, at least three miles away, to 

 get a hive for the biggest swarm he had ever seen. It was suggested to 

 him that it might be gone before his return. But his bees were rather 

 well behaved, for they would usually hang for several days patiently wait- 

 ing the time when he could spare a few minutes to start them off in their 

 new abode. A few days later the inspector learned that this particular 

 ewarm was different, for when the beekeeper got back it had vanished 

 into thin air. 



The first swarm that was encountered by the western inspector occurred 

 on May llth, and from that date to the end of June he met them in plenty. 

 This fixes in some measure the date by which everything required for the 

 season's work should be ready, hives nailed and painted, frames nailed 

 with foundation in place, in fact everything in perfect condition for im- 

 mediate use. i 



Now as to the necessary equipment. There ought to be on hand at 

 least one hive body or brood-chamber for every colony in the yard, two 

 would be still better. The purpose of these extra bodies is not to take care 

 of new swarms, but to prevent if possible any swarms issuing, and to store 

 the surplus honey. 



