The Townsend Bee Book 11. 
secures from two twelve-frame colonies each having eight combs 
of brood at the same time before the honey-flow. Now, as he has. 
said that he can produce six combs of brood in the eight-frame 
hive to eight in the twelve-frame, it will be seen that the eight- 
frame hive is still ahead, taking into consideration the number of 
frames in the hive. In other words, it would take fewer bees to 
gather the honey in a given locality in the eight-frame hive than 
in a twelve-frame. If I were selling bees I would ask about the 
same money for 60 or 65 colonies in twelve-frame hives that I 
would for 90 colonies in eight-frame hives; and the surplus-recep- 
tacles for each lot would probably sell for about the same. 
The Langstroth frame being the standard, I think that eight 
Langstroth frames make a small hive; twelve make a large hive, 
and ten a medium one. Other things being equal, a two-frame 
nucleus in proportion to the number of combs it contains will store 
just as much honey as a colony in an eight-frame hive, and con- 
siderably more honey than a colony in a ten-frame hive, and, of 
course, much more yet than a colony in a twelve-frame hive. This 
comparison is based on the ability of the queen to keep the differ- 
ent sizes of hives stocked with eggs, and on the disposition of 
the workers to take care of the eggs and brood afterward. An 
ordinary queen will fill a ten-frame hive with brood; but it is rare 
that a queen will use all of the room in a twelve-frame hive. Bees 
on ten frames of brood will store the same amount of honey wheth- 
er the brood is all in one hive or divided into two parts and in two 
hives. It will be seen by this that the number of combs of brood 
and bees we have at the beginning of the surplus-honey flow 
determines the amount of honey that will be brought in, regard- 
less of the size of the hive. Generally speaking, the smaller the 
hive the more honey will be placed in the super. 
After satisfying myself that the eight-frame hive was large 
enough for the average queen, I made up my mind to use the ten- 
frame hive, the two additional frames being principally for honey. 
Although these two extra frames may contain brood in some cases, 
they were usually filled with honey and comb—a reserve fund, so 
to speak; and with this reserve on hand our colonies will not have 
to be watched as closely in regard to stores, and are thus better 
equipped for outyard service, where they may be left by them- 
selves at quite long intervals at times. 
It is possible for the expert honey-producer to make a fair 
success with almost any size or shape of hive, and in almost any 
location; but it is very convenient to have the hive conform to the 
system that is best for the special location. 
