76 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



Of these last the Hoffman is probably the most popular, 

 and I put in use enough to fill a few hives, and some of them are 

 still in use. When new they work very nicely, but as propolis 

 accumulates the difficulty of handling increases, and the frames 

 become more and more crowded, until it is almost impossible to 

 get out the dummy, the easier thing being to pry out with a 

 good deal of force the first frame, either with or without the 

 dummy. Indeed, the difficulty of getting out the frames is so 

 great that the sight of a set of Hoil^man frames when the cover 

 is removed always produces something like a shudder. 



Although I could not have anything in the line of closed- 

 ends, I wanted the advantage of the self-spacing, and not find- 

 ing anything on the market to suit me I was, in a manner, 

 compelled to adopt something of my own " get-up," and so for 

 several years I have used with much satisfaction the Miller 

 frame (Fig. 95). 



MILLER FRAME. 



The frame is of course of the regular Langstroth size, 

 17% X 9%- Top-bar, bottom-bar, and end-bars are uniform in 

 width, V/s inches throughout their whole dimensions. The top- 

 bar is Ys inch thick, with the usual saw-kerf to receive the 

 foundation, and close beside this is another kerf to receive the 

 wedge that fastens in the foundation. The length of the top- 

 bar is 18% inches, and yg x 9-16 is rabbeted out of each ev<] 

 to receive the end-bar. The end-bar is 8 9-16 x 1% x ■''«. The 

 bottom-bar consists of two pieces, each 17% x % x %. This 

 allows Vs inch between the two parts to receive the foundation, 

 making the bottom-bar iVs inches wide when nailed. 



In Fig. 95 the frame is upside down, one-half of the bot- 

 tom-bar nailed on, the other half above, while below is seen 

 the long strip that serves as a wedge to fasten in the foundation. 



Some of my latest frames, however, have the bottom-bar in 

 one piece, ] Vs inches wide, and I'm not sure but I prefer them. 

 The only object in having the bottom-bar in two pieces is the 

 convenience of an exact fit of the foundation without the trouble 

 of cutting it carefully to the right size. With the bottom-bai' 

 all in one piece, the foundation fitting down close upon it, and 

 melted wax run along the joint, the bees may be less inclined to 



