138 



THE TRAME HIVE. 



find full particulars and many such conditions in the 

 best guide-books ; but the mention of three or 

 four will be sufficient. for our present purpose. Of 

 these the first is that the hive must be well and 

 strongly made of good-seasoned wood. It may be 

 very rough, but it must be strong, and must not warp 

 or crack. In the next place, the inside of the hive, 

 where the frames hang suspended, must be exactly of 

 the right depth and width. It should hold ten 

 frames at least, and it would be well if there is room 

 for several more ; for, if not filled up with frames, the 

 vacant space is cut off from the bees by a stout 

 division-board, and is always useful when examining 

 the hive. 



But whatever the number of frames, the width and 

 depth of the hive inside must be true to measure ; so 



Section of a Hive with Frames. 



made that when a frame is suspended within, there is a 

 space of half an inch between the bottom of the frame 

 and the floor of the hive, and a quarter of an inch be- 

 tween the sides of the frame and the sides of the hive. 

 And there is great reason for this exactness. If the 

 space at the sides is greater than a quarter of an inch 



