DADANT SYSTEM OF BEEKEEPING 



15 



Fig. 10. Several stories of eight frame hives make too tall a pile 



supers. Small hives have a smaller base of support than larger 

 ones, have to be tiered higher for honey capacity, cause a higher 

 climb to the honey-laden bees and are probably more difficult 

 to ventilate than larger ones. 



It is true that small hives are cheaper than large ones. 

 But as they often have to be tiered higher and are more prone 

 to cast swarms, it takes a greater number of them to supply 

 an apiary. So the economy is much less than would appear. 



Small hives, however, have the advantage of being easier 

 to carry to the cellar and back, easier to transport from one 

 apiary to another, easier for women to handle in making 

 increase. 



An advantage in the manufacturing of the shallow hive 

 which has had great weight with manufacturers of hives is that 

 it may be made of narrow widths of lumber, since the standard 

 Langstroth brood chamber may be cut out of 10 inch stock 



