THOUSAND ANSWERS 105 



A. Your plan will work all right. But you don't need to have 

 any kerf in the bottom-bar, and then you won't need to have it as 

 thick as the top-bar. Indeed, if you wax the foundation, top and 

 bottom, you will not need kerfs either place. I have some frames 

 without the split bottom-bar, and it works all right. You may say 

 you want the kerf to hold the splint. I never yet put a splint in 

 a kerf, and see no need of it. Of course, the top-bar must be 

 thick, kerf or no kerf. 



Q. What is your opinion of the use of the Miller or "'metal- 

 spaced" frame with top-bars seven-eighths inch square for any 

 location, either comb or extracted honey, the idea being that the 

 combs could be trimmed to the proper thickness with the narrow 

 bar, while the knife would not work against the metal or nails, 

 and at the same time the frame might be used for producing comb 

 honey? 



A. It might work satisfactorily; but only after trial could one 

 be sure about it. How much the metal spacers would be in the 

 way of an uncapping-knife would depend upon their construction. 

 If there is metal at each end on each side, there would be trouble. 

 As you know, I use common nails as spacers. These are only on 

 one end on each side of the frame, and by starti'ng the knife at 

 the end where the spacers are, there ought to be little danger of 

 striking the knife on the metal. I have seen in foreign bee-papers 

 mention of metal spacers that were removable, being taken oflE 

 for extracting, and then put on again upon returning to the hive. 



Q. How thick should the follower be in order to hold the 

 frames solidly together? 



A. Strictly speaking, the frames are never held solidly to- 

 gether. They are crowded closely together against one side, but 

 there is left a loose space at the other side between the dummy 

 and the side of the hive. No possible harm can come from this 

 except that it allows a little movement when hives are hauled 

 over very rough roads, but I have never had any trouble in that 

 way. The dummy is five-sixteenths of an inch thick. 



Q. How wide were the top-bars of the unspaced frame for- 

 merly in use by you? 



A. Seven-eighths of an inch. 



Q. Did you find disadvantages in the unspaced frame other 

 than those mentioned in your book? 



A. Yes, there was at least one other. As the frames hung en- 

 tirely free, in time there was a little warping of some of the top- 

 bars. Every slight twist of the top-bar would allow quite a bit of 



