8 BEE-KEEPING IN WAR-TIME 



length. The double-walled hive is the most costly, but the 

 extra outlay is well repaid by comfort in management. 



The double- walled hive consists of a floor- board, to the 

 joists of which are attached four splayed legs ; on the floor- 

 board rests the brood chamber, which is a lidless and bottom- 

 less box ; fitting into this are ten frames, which hang by lugs 

 on to a metal runner, so that they hang clear of the hive side 

 by a quarter of an inch. This measurement must be kept 

 accurately. If less is given, then the bees glue the frame to the 

 hive side with propolis ; if more, they build comb in between, 

 in either case making the operation of removing the comb a 

 very difficult one. The space under the frame, between the 

 bottom bar and the floor-board, is half an inch, to allow free 

 passage for the in coming and out-going bees. The frames 

 are spaced one and a half inches from centre to centre by 

 metal ends of this width slipped on to the lugs. The frames 

 are now made standard size, as is also the inside width of 

 all hives, so that the frames are interchangeable in any hive. 

 A division board to fit just tight into the brood chamber, for 

 reducing the number of combs occupied by the bees, com- 

 pletes the fittings of this portion of the hive. The brood 

 chamber is surrounded by an outer case, the joints of which, 

 between it and the floor- board, are broken by means of plinths 

 at the back and on two sides ; on the front is a porch, which 

 gives shade to the entrance from sun and rain ; in the bottom 

 edge of the porch is a recess, in which a couple of wooden 

 slides are inserted to regulate the width of the entrance 

 according to the season of the year, or to close it altogether 

 if necessary. When the outer case is in position there is an 

 air space between it and the brood chamber ; this makes the 

 latter warmer in winter and cooler in summer than a single- 

 walled hive. For obtaining surplus honey, supers for the 

 storage of comb honey, called section racks, are used; or if 

 it is desired to work for honey in a liquid form, then shallow 

 frames are used in a box exactly the same size as the brood 

 chamber in every way except the depth, this being shallower. 

 To build the hive up to accommodate the supers, hfts six 

 inches deep, with plinths on all four bottom edges to break 

 the joints, are used. A water-tight roof completes the 

 hive, 



A single-walled hive differs in so much that there is no 

 outer case, and usually only one lift, so that the number of 

 supers on the hive at any one time is limited to two, whereas 



