136 MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



the frames, and the sides and bottom of the hive. Even 

 doubling this would do no harm ; though a much wider space 

 would very likely receive comb, and be troublesome. Frames 

 that fit close in the hive, or that reach to the bottom, are 

 very inconvenient and undesirable. To secure against this, 

 our lumber must be thoroughly seasoned, else when shrink- 

 age takes place our frames may touch the bottom-board. 



The distance between the frames may be one-fourth of an 

 inch, though a slight variation either way does no hi-rm. Some 

 men, of very precise habits, prefer nails or wire staples in the 

 side of the frames, at top and bottom, which project just a 

 quarter of an inch, so as to maintain this unvarying distance ; 

 or staples in the bottom of the hive to secure the same end. 

 Mr. Langstroth so arranged his frames, and Mr. Palmer, of 

 Hart, Michigan, whose neatness is only surpassed by his suc- 

 cess, does the same thing. I have had hives with these extra 

 attachments, but found them no special advantage. I think 

 we can regulate the distance with the eye, so as to meet every 

 practical demand, and thus save the expense and trouble 

 which the above attachments cost. 



COVER FOR FRAMES. 



Nothing that I have ever tried is equal to a quilt for this 

 purpose. It is a good absorbent of moisture, preserves the 

 heat in spring and winter, and can be used in summer without 

 jarring or crushing the bees. This should be a real quilt, 

 made of firm unbleached factory, duck, or cambric — I have 

 used the first with entire satisfaction for four years — enclosing 

 a thick layer of batting, and hemmed about the edges. My 

 wife quilts and hems them on a machine. The quilting is in 

 squares, and all is made in less than fifteen minutes. The 

 quilt should be a little larger than the top of the hive, so that 

 after all possible shrinkage, it will still cover closely. Thus, 

 when this is put on, no bees can ever get above it. When we 

 use the feeder, it may be covered by the quilt, and a flap cut 

 in the latter, just above the hole in the feeder, enables us to 

 feed without disturbing the bees, though I place the feeder at. 

 the end of the chamber, wherein are the bees, and have only 

 to double the quilt back when I feed. The only objection 

 that I know to the quilt is, that the bees will fasten propolis, 



