MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



135 



To the bottom of this, screw a semi-oval piece of hoop-steel 

 (Fig. 37, b, b), which shall bend around and press against 

 the square strips. The ends of this should not reach quite 

 to the bottom of the board. Near the ends of this spring, 

 fasten, by rivets, an inch strap (Fig. 37, a), which shall be 

 straight when thus riveted. These dimensions are for frames 

 eleven inches square, inside measure, and must be varied for 

 other sizes. 



To use this block, we crowd the end-bars of our frames 

 between the steel springs (Fig. 37, b, b) and the square strips 

 (Fig. 37, e, e); then lay on our top-bar and nail, after which 

 Fig. 37. 



we invert the block and nail the bottom-bar, as we did the 

 top-bar. Now press down on the strap (Fig. 37, a), which 

 will loosen the frame, when it may be removed, all complete 

 and true. Such a gauge not only insures perfect frames, but 

 demands that every piece shall be cut with great accuracy. 

 And some such arrangement should always be used in making 

 the frames. 



The projecting ends of the top-bar will rest on the tins 

 (Fig. 33), and thus the frame can be easily loosened at any 

 time without jarring the bees, as the frames will not be glued 

 fast, as they would in case they rested on the wooden rabbets. 

 The danger of killing bees is also abolished by use of the tins. 



When the frames are in the hive there should be at least a 

 three-sixteenths inch space between the sid^s and bottom of 



