24) PEACTICAL BEE-KEEPING. 



There is danger of the ends of the ears of the frames getting^ atfaeheiJ 

 to the hive hy propolis, and where this happens it much interferes 

 ■with the comfort of working. It may be prevented either by reducing- 

 the length of the top bar so as to leave im. interspace, or by cutting the- 

 ears to a point by chiselling off a piece on one side only at an angle of 

 45". This gives the bees rather more opportunity of working their- 

 little tiresome trick, of fixing that which we require to be loose, than.- 

 the shortened -top bar, but it prevents the liability of getting the end of- 

 the frame itself too near to the side of the hive. However, this mis- 

 chance would rarely happen with a careful operator. 



Many good hives have not been mentioned, but enough has been saicD 

 to point out the salient points of the greater number. Let us remember 

 ■that hives gather no honey. They may be of the correct size and shape ;. 

 may give our bees most efBcient protection, and afford every facility for' 

 manipulation, but the observant and attentive bee keeper alone will reap- 

 from them all the harvest they are capable of supplying. 



