DIVIDERS. 107 



CHAPTER XI. 

 DIVIDERS. 



THE apiarian who adopts the storifying plan, 

 should have Keyss dividers, which consist of two 

 copper or brass plates, about the sixteenth of an 

 inch thick, fifteen inches wide, and fifteen and a 

 half long ; the odd half inch, being turned up, 

 serves for the operator to lay hold of, when the 

 plates are withdrawn. Care should be taken that 

 the plates be perfect planes, well hardened by 

 hammering, and of proper thickness. If they ex- 

 ceed the prescribed thickness, the bees may escape 

 as soon as the plates are partially introduced or 

 partially withdrawn ; and if they be thinner, there 

 will be the same chance of escape from their want 

 of firmness and elasticity. 



These dividers greatly facilitate the various 

 operations which the apiarian has to perform, 

 and at the same time secure him from the attacks 

 of the bees. 



He should be provided with one of the long- 

 bladed spatulas or knives, used by apothecaries 

 and painters, which he will find useful in separa- 

 ting the honey-combs from the sides of the hives 

 or boxes. In some cases it will also be necessary 

 to have an iron instrument, about ten inches long 



