THE FRAME HIVE. 



137 



every comb, when made, is in a frame by itself, and 

 true and straight as we wanted. And thus, without 

 difficulty, the first great and essential thing is ob- 

 tained. Each frame is independent of the others, and 

 can be lifted out with comb and bees upon it when- 

 ever wanted. 



Frame filled with Comb, 

 (a.) Sealed honey stores. 1 (c.) Sealed drone comb. 



(b.\ Sealed worker-brood comb. I (d-^.) Unsealed drone comb, 

 ((/j. ) Unsealed worker comb. 



All frames — whatever the sort of hive — are now 

 made of the same size, namely, 14 inches long by SJ 

 inches deep. This is called the standard size. They 

 are also made just of the proper width to hold a 

 comb ; and so contrived at the shoulder that, when in 

 the hive, they are exactly at equal distances from one 

 another, and just at that distance which the bees 

 choose when making comb for themselves. 



And now going back to 'the hive itself, I will 

 point out a few more of the principal conditions to be 

 fulfilled before it can be called a good hive. You will 



