27 
26 inches by 26 inches, at about three inches above the ground 
level. It will be found convenient to use a wooden frame four 
a deep in which to mould the concrete, which should consist 
of :— 
3 parts sharp sand, 
3 parts fine broken stone, 
1 part of Portland cement. 
Two bent irons should be set in the concrete, one on each side 
of the hive, to provide means for tying it down in windy weather. 
If the site is infested by ants, a groove two inches deep and two 
inches wide should be made in the concrete all round the hive 
to hold water. The surface of the stand should be made quite 
level, using a spirit level to ascertain that it is so. If it is 
desired to have a movable stand, the concrete may be moulded 
in a box, or a large flagstone may be used. It is a good plan to 
lay a heavy dressing of cinders for about a yard all round the 
stand to prevent the growth of herbage. 
VI. WIRING FRAMES AND FIXING FOUNDATION IN 
FRAMES. 
Although the upper edge of the foundation is held by the top 
bar of the frame (24), it is necessary to 
70. Reason for _ give it further support to prevent it stretch- 
Wiring. ing or breaking down under the weight of 
bees which it has to support when the 
brood chamber is at a high temperature; such support is pro- 
vided by fastening wires across the frames and embedding 
them in the foundation. 
To wire a frame, cut a piece of zinc 6 inches by $-inch (G, Fig. 10), 
or a piece of hard wood of same dimensions 
71. Wiring Frames and about }-inch thick, and in this bore a 
for Brood Chamber. hole with a fine bradawl at two inches from 
one end, and another at 4 or 44 inches from 
the same end, the holes being equidistant from either side: this 
is to be reserved for use as a gauge. Hold the gauge against 
one side bar of the frame so that one hole in it shall be 2 inches 
from the under side of the top bar, and that the edges of the 
gauge shall be flush with the edges of the side bar; then bore 
holes for the embedding wire (85) through the two holes in the 
gauge and through the side bar ;_ bore similar holes in the other 
side bar ; cut off 44 inches of embedding wire and pass it through 
the two holes nearest to the top bar (a, Fig. 24), draw the wire 
through, leaving about seven inches of wire outside the frame ; 
fasten it to the second side bar by taking it right round that bar, 
and back through the hole, then lead it down inside the side 
bar, out through the lower hole in that bar (6, Fig. 24), then right 
round the bar and in through the hole to the second hole in the 
opposite bar; pull each end of the wire tight enough to twang 
sharply when struck, and then secure each end as shown in Fig. 
25, A little experience will enable the operator to do this with- 
