228 A Modem Bee-Farm 



The perforated dividing board is thus described by Mr. 

 Wells : . . . " The kind of wood I use is the best yelloyr 

 pine, about ^-inch thick, shoulders projecting the same depth, 

 as the thickness of top bar of frames used . . . so as to 

 be level with top of frames when in position. Warping is 

 prevented by folding a ' strip of light tin around the ends, 

 leaving a small piece long enough to turn over top and bottom. 

 I make holes first with a bradawl, then run a hot iron through 

 about J-inch thick, each hole being about ^-inch apart." 



A board of soft wood so thin as ^-th of an inch will soon be 

 rendered useless for the purpose, as bees have a peculiar habit 

 of continually scraping, and biting and will in time make 

 openings large enough to pass through. It seems therefore 

 advisable either to use harder wood or a slightly thicker board. 

 Moreover, a thin board as a divider is very inconvenient, and 

 will doubtless be far more useful and permanent if itself let 

 into a broader rim forming a close-fitting frame as illustrated. 



The Perforated Zinc 



may or may not be secured in a frame, but the frame shewn 

 under the super crate in Fig. 6i appears to me the better way 

 of using it. The centre stay, P, is the same thickness as the 

 rim, and in these pieces the zinc is secured by running into a 

 saw-cut made along the centre of the edges. The stays, H H, 

 are only half thickness, the zinc being fastened to the under- . 

 side of these and thus keeping all clear of the frarnes. 



The Super Crate 



is arranged so that through and free communication is to be 

 had from end to end (Fig. 6i), though it is probable that the 

 divisional super in three separate crates of full length will be 

 found more convenient than one heavy crate. 



