140 



MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



be moved back and side-wise. In looking at the bees we can 

 separate the combs at once, at any place. The chamber can 

 be enlarged or diminished simply by adding or withdrawing 

 frames. As the hooks are on all four corners of the frames, 

 the frames can be either end back, or either side up. Boards 

 with the iron hooks close the sides of the brood cavity, while 

 a quilt covers the frames. 



The entrance (Fig. 39, e) is cut in the bottom-board as 

 already explained, except that the- lateral edges are kept 

 parallel. A strip of sheet-iron (Fig. 39, d) is tacked across 

 this, on which rest the ends of the front end-bars of the 

 frames which stand above, and underneath which pass the bees 

 as they come to and go from the hive. A box, without bottom 

 and with movable top, covers all, leaving a space from four to 

 six inches above and on all sides between it and the frames. 

 This gives chance to pack with chaff in winter, and for side 

 and top storing in sections or boxes in summer. 



The Bingham hive (Fig. 40) is not only remarkably simple, 

 but is as remarkable for its shallow depth ; the frames being 

 only five inches high. These have no bottom-bar. The end- 



FlG. 40. 



Frames and Bottom-Board of the Bingham Hive. 



bars are one and a half inches wide, and the top-bar square. 

 The nails that hold the end-bars pass into the end of the top- 

 bar, which is usually placed diagonally, so that an edge, not 

 a face, is below ; though some are made with a face below 

 (Fig. 40, /), to be used when comb is transferred. The 

 frames are held together by two wires, one at each end. Each 

 wire (Fig. 40, a) is a little longer than twice the width of the 

 hive when the maximum number of frames are used. The ends 

 of each wire are united and placed about nails (Fig. 40, b, b) in 



