MOVABLE-rRAME HIVES. 171 



ing to no\dees the number of frames to be placed in the hive. 

 Even a practical bee-keeper will sometimes make the mis- 

 take of putting eleven or thirteen frames, in a hive that 

 should hold twelve. "With this wire, mistakes are impossible, 

 as they will at once be detected. Besides, if the hive has to be 

 transported some distance, it keeps the frames from jarring. 

 Its cost is insignificant. Some Swiss Apiarists use two of 

 these, one in each end. 



348. The entrance should not be less than five-sixteenths, 

 or more than three-eighths of an inch in depth, in order to 

 give easy passage to the bees, and at the same time, keep 

 out mice. Round holes are objectionable. Each hive is 



Fig. 81. 



DIVISION BOAED. 



furnished with an entrance-block, somewhat heavy, and cut 

 as in fig. 73, to reduce, or close the entrance according to 

 the emergencies. 



349. The division board, also called contractor or dummy, 

 is an indispensable feature of all good hives. With its help, 

 the hive may be adjusted to the size of the weakest swarm, 

 and in Winter, the space behind it can be filled with warm 

 and absorbing material (636). The constant use of a divi- 

 sion board, even in the strongest colonies, renders the handling 

 of combs much easier. All Apiarists know that the first 

 comb is the hardest to remove. By removing the board first, 

 the combs are at once free and can be easily taken out. 



