MOVABLE-FRAME HIVES. 157 



that he takes to improve his stock, by selecting the best ani- 

 mals as reproducers. If we use hives so narrow that we 

 cannot discern which are our most prolific queens, and that 

 they incite natural swarming, we are unable to improve oui' 

 bees by selection. (453, 511.) 



316. The distance between frames from center to center 

 can be varied from 1% inches to IV2 in the breedmg apart- 

 ment, of which we are now treating. In the surplus cases, it 

 may be made much greater. 



SIT. The distance of 1% inches, advised by Mr. Quinby, 

 is preferable for two reasons: 



1st, It facilitates the taking out of the combs, giving a 

 little more room to handle them, and thus aids in inter- 

 changing combs, which may have slight irregularities; when 

 such changes are necessary to help weak colonies with brood 

 or honey from stronger ones. 



2nd, It gives more room between brood-combs for the bees 

 to cluster in Winter, and a greater thickness of honey above 

 them, thereby placing the bees in better condition for Winter. 



318. The frames must be properly distanced in the liive, 

 and the combs must be built straight in them; for a movable- 

 frame hive, vrith crooked combs, is worse than a hive without 

 any frames. 



319. The building of straight combs in. the frames was 

 formerly tolerably secured by the use of a triangular wooden 

 guide fastened to the imder side of the top bar of the frame, 

 and which the bees follow in most instances. Something of 

 this kind was mentioned by Delia Rocca as early as 1790. 

 ("Traite Complet sur les Abeilles.") 



330. A metallic stamp was invented by Mr. Mehring, of 

 Bavaria, Germany, for printing or stamping the shape of the 

 combs upon the under side of the top bar of the frames. 

 After the outlines were made he rubbed melted wax over 

 them, and scraped off all that did not sink into the de- 

 pressions: Mr. Mehring represented this device as enabling 

 him to dispense with guide combs, the bees appearing to be 



