and its Economic Management. 267 



With these frames the great disadvantage has been not so 

 much the actual contact of the frames as the fact that screws 

 or springs were necessary to keep all up close together to 

 avoid the trouble caused by the contraction or expansion of 

 the wood. So much for the past ; we await the developments- 

 of the future. 



Metal ends for keeping brood frames equi-distant are as- 

 illustrated at Fig. 65. These were the invention of Mr. 

 W. B. Carr, and are so cheaply produced by the well-known 

 manufacturer, Mr. W. P. Meadows, that the cast metal ends 

 have been driven out of the field. Their formation permits of 

 using frames at two distinct distances from centre to centre, 

 though the fact is seldom taken advantage of, and when once 

 placed on the frames the set distance is retained. 



Fertilization of Queen Bees in Confinement ! — Ah I 

 here is one wished-for attainment which appears never likely 

 to be accomplished. My experiments in this direction only 

 convince me that the task is hopeless, as the drone and queen 

 must have a full and vigorous exciting flight just prior to the 

 act of copulation. 



Artificial Heat ! — What numerous and costly experi- 

 ments have- I not conducted in this direction, extending over 

 the last ten or twelve years ? It is both a destructive and a 

 helpful process. Hurtful if applied before warm weather is 

 really near at hand ; greatly beneficial if used in a proper 

 manner, only after the bees have once hatched plenty of 

 young. 



