10 ITALIAN BEE KEEPING. 



the new, as there are passages of oommunioation for tie bees to 

 pass down between every two frames. The simplest way to increase 

 the hive, withont in the least disturbing the bees, is every now 

 and then, when the bees want room, to add a new frame at the 

 end, and thns the hive may be prolanged indefinitely, with the cer- 

 tainty that the combs will be made one by one regularly. 



It is necessary here to remark that in ease it be determined to 

 make only a long row of hives, then the top of every frame mnst 

 be made as broad as the sides, leaving no aperture {vide Fig. 2) ; 

 but if it is proposed to buUd up an upper story, then, in the tops 

 of frames for lower story, apertures corresponding in size with 

 those between the lower bars of the frames must be cut (see Kg. 3), 

 so as to aUow the bees to ascend into the upper story which is 

 added. 



The lower apertures between the frames are in all cases neces- 

 sary, as, when the frames are set longitudinally, they form channels 

 for all the refuse which aoonmulates during winter, which, unless 

 removed, wiU harbour moths, that may ruin the hive. 



The stand may be easily cleaned by raising all the frames together, 

 by putting two stout, straight sticks, one before and one behind the 

 frames, when two persons, one at either end of the hive, can raise 

 the sticks, and leave space for the footboard to be cleansed or 

 changed. 



If it is desired to move a Giotto hive to some distance, it is only 

 necessary to pass a tape or cord- round the length of the hive, tie 

 it tightly under the projections, and also a long, narrow strip of 

 folded net over the bee entrances and round the foot of the hive, 

 and then it may be carried on a board. 



I must now point out one of the advantages of arranging these 

 frames in a long line, instead of piling one story |on another. If 

 storied hives are used when the time comes for taking honey from 

 any of the lower stories, it is necessary to lift off bodily the upper 

 story to get at the lower one, and this operation is troublesome. By 

 having only a long row of frames, one person can at any minute go 

 and take as much honey as he likes, by first taking off the roof 

 tiles, then sKppiap; in a table knife between the frames (to cut 

 through the propolis, with which the bees always attach them one 

 to another, to keep out the wet), and then Ufting out the frames 

 (holding them by the front and back projections), as easily as one 

 takes a book from between two others on a bookshelf. In this way 

 any or every comb may be examined at any time. 



Perfectly pure honey may then be taken in one minute by whirl- 

 ing it out of the comb, by help of the centrifugal machine. Then the 

 frame with the empty comb can be replaced, and the bees wiU refill 

 it. This process can be repeated throughout the season. 



