MANUAL OP THE APIARY. 125 



to be a two-story one — that is, one hive above a similar hive 

 below (Fig. 29) — I prefer that it should be eighteen inches 

 long, twelve inches wide, and twelve inches deep, inside 

 measure. If simply small frames or boxes are to be used above, 

 I would have the hive at least two feet long. A three-fourths 

 inch rabbet should be cut from the top of the sides or ends. 



Fig. 30 



as the apiarist prefers, on the inside (Fig. 30, c). The rabbet 

 may equal a little more than one-half the thickness of the 

 board. Heavy tin strips (Fig. 33), three-fourths of an inch 

 wide, should be tacked to the side below the rabbet, so as to 

 reach one-fourth of an inch above the shoulder. These are 

 to bear the frames, and are convenient, as they prevent the 

 frames from becoming glued to the hive. We are thus able 

 to loosen the frames without jarring the bees. I would not 

 have hives without such tin rabbets, though some apiarists, 

 among whom is Mr. James Heddon, of this State, whose 

 rank as a successful apiarist is very high, do not like them. 

 The objection to them is cost, and liability of the frames to 



