and its Economic Mamgement, 73 



THE ECONOMIC HIVE. 



•This is a most simple and yet substantial hive, made from 

 f-inch white deal. It contains nine frames and two, dummies, 

 and the width of the hive inside, measuring across the frame, 

 is 16 inches. By removing the dummies there is room for 

 eleven frames for ordinary spacing, or as designed for close 

 spacing in the first instance, twelve may be used only J-inch 

 apart. I have practised crowding and close spacing ever 

 since foundation first came into use, finding it gave a more 

 compact brood nest and less room for stores below. 



The same idea has since been brought forward in America, 

 with the claim that it prevented the issue of swarms, as the 

 bees would not, it was supposed, store in such shallow cells as 

 this arrangement enforced, and on the other hand would be 

 prevented from breeding in the thicker store combs (sections) 

 above. In neither case, however, is this correct, as I have 

 many times noted that not only do bees store and cap combs 

 ■which are even thinner than required for brood, but also that 

 the thickness of the combs in sections above is not the least 

 hindrance to the bees breeding there, as tliey simply reduce 

 the length of the cells to suit their purpose should the queen 

 be crowded by mismanagement below. 



The Economic has a floor composed of one piece of board 

 iji inches by 11 inches, and another 55 inches wide of the 

 same length. The two are halved together, and a ^-inch 

 rabbet cut out round the upper edge to keep wet from settling 

 under. Another 5-J-inch board, bevelled on the edge, forms 

 the flight board, and is detachable, being secured by simple 

 hooks, or hinged, if desired ; the object being to ensure 

 that there is no projection in the way when packing and 

 travelUng. 



The front and back boards are each 16 inches long by 8f 

 inches deep. Both of these are bevelled along the upper edge, 

 to give a thin ledge for the frames to rest upon. The two side 

 walls are each 17^ inches long by 9 inches .wide, and overlap 



