38 ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 



?y Boards siimdl Quseeim 

 lExcltidletPSo 



''ITH the majority of frames in use, bees build little bits of 

 combs between the top bars of tlte frames, and, extend- 

 ing the combs upwards, connectthem with the cover of 

 the hive, or the bottom of a case of sections, or whatever 

 is next above the tops of the frames. These little bits 

 of combs are called brace combs or burr combs. It is 

 very unpleasant, unprofitable and untidy to lift off a case 

 of sections, and, in so doing-, pull apart a net work of 

 combs that connect the bottoms of the sections with the 

 tops of the brood frames. The honey drips and daubs 

 about and attracts robbers, if there are any to be at- 

 tracted. The bits of combs must be scrai>ed from the 

 bottoms of the sections, and the muss cleaned up as best 

 it may. 



The bee-keeping- fraternity is, I believe, indebted to 

 Mr. James Heddon for the modern honey board, which 

 practically does awaj' with all of this trouble from brace combs. 

 This honey board is simply a series of slats fastened to a frame as 

 large as the top of the hive, and placed over the brood nest. These 

 slats are about 5-16 of an inch thick, placed 5a of an inch apart, and 

 of such width and so arranged that each opening between them 

 comes exactly over the center of the top bar of a brood frame below. 

 In other words, the slats break joints with the top bars of the frames 

 below. 



As the tops of the frames are ■;-» of an inch below the level of the 

 top of the hive, there is a ^.-inch space between the tops of the frames- 



