62 THE PRACTICAL BEE GUIDE. 



when the frames are pressed together in the hive, the neces- 

 sary space is provided. The frame measures 14" long x Si" 

 deep. The top bar is 17" long x V' thick ; the side bars are Si" 

 long X I" thick; and tlic bottom bar is 14" long x ^" thick; 

 the width of all being, as already stated, 2". The four pieces 

 are made to dovetail into one another, and are usually sold 

 in the flat. When put together they should be fastened at the 

 corners with four tacks or fine wire nails. Underneath the top 

 bar are two grooves, the centre groove to hold an edge of a 

 sheet of foundation (117), and the side groove to take a thin 

 wedge supplied witli the frame, and by which the foundation 

 is held in the centre groove. Frames are now sold at prices 

 so low that it is not advisable for bee-keepers to manufacture 

 frames for themselves. It is necessary that the frame be put 

 together perfectly square. There are also in use frajnes 

 having a saw-cut along and through the top bar, into which 

 the sheet of foundation is fastened (117), and frames with 

 plain top bars to which the foundation is attached by melted 

 wax (117). 



98. Various Sizes of Frames. — Frames are used of larger size 

 for the brood nest by some bee-keepers, and it is claimed for 

 the larger frames that they give better results. The practice 

 generally in this country is to use the "standard" frame, as 

 described. It is of importance that, whatever size be adopted, 

 it should be uniformly used in the apiary, because there is a 

 decided advantage in being able to interchange frames. In 

 America the popular frame is larger than our standard frame, 

 and many bee-keepers at home hold that our standard should 

 be enlarged. The Langstroth frame, in use in America, has 

 the following dimensions: — Top bar, igj" long x |" thick; 

 side bars, 8J" long x /j," thick; bottom bar, 16J" long x f 

 thick ; the width of all the bars being J". The " Simplicity " 

 frame, which is described as the " Standard frame of America," 

 has the top bar igj" long; side bars Qg" ; and bottom bar 17I". 

 .Sajirr, or " Shiillow " frames, for use in extracting supers 

 (108) are in very general use. They differ from the standard 

 frame in being only si" deep, the super being 5" deep. It is 

 claimed for them that they are more readily taken to by the bees 

 in supers than are standard frames, as they increase the 

 accommodation above the brood nest more gradually ; but it is 

 an objection to them that they are not interchangeable with 

 standard frames. 



98b. The " Claustral ' Detention Chamber.— This appliance, 

 which was illustrated and described in the Irish Bee Journal for 

 October and November, igoC, was devised by M. I'Abbe 

 Gouttefangeas, whose book, " Ruche C-laustrante et Methode 



