and its Economic Management. 231 



The Floor 



is secured to, and rests upon, two pieces of stout deal, 3-inch 

 by 2-inch, while the alighting boards are each set under the 

 main level ; thus a full width entrance is allowed, and is 

 regulated by simple wood blocks as shewn at E. 



By using the frame all round the thin perforated dummy, 

 the flioor board can be made in two separate pieces, and hinged 

 to a centre strip across the bottom, and thus the supposed 

 advantage of slanting the floor can be carried out on either 

 side with no disturbance to the other, and the far more con- 

 venient form of opposite and distinct entrances retained. In 

 this case, legs can be secured to the stand as in Fig. 62. 

 I do not myself see the- necessity of a dropping floor, but there 

 are doubtless others who will be pleased to know how to 

 carry out Mr. Wells' plan without the sad inconvenience of 

 legs fastened to the body of the brood chamber. 



For commercial purposes, plinths around, the rims of hives 

 are found unnecessary, as also are porches, but these can be 

 added to suit the tastes of those who require such. 



The Trouble in case of Sv^arming 



will probably be the greatest difficulty to contend with, as the 

 two queens must go out with the double swarm ; but this 

 difficulty will be entirely overcome by adopting my swarm 

 catcher to each compartment, thus retaining each queen under 

 her original brood chamber, and after the removal of the 

 surjplus queen cells, work will go on merrily again. 



The Disadvantages of the System 



are : The extra labour required throughout, as well as more 

 cumbersome hives ; the use of perforated zinc being also a 

 necessity ; while the greater inclination to swarm, together 

 with the fact that both lots with their respective queens go out 



