14 1 ! AUSTRALIAN BEE LORE AND BEE CULTURE- 



placing a strip of calico about 3 inches wide over the joint and well 

 rubbing it down till it is evenly stuck to the woodwork by the- 

 paint, then again painting the upper surface of the calico. A 

 strip of tin or zinc may be substituted for the calico. In 

 that case no painting will be needed, only for the preservation 

 of the wood, and if the whole hive were so treated it would look 

 better and last longer. Care must be exercised not to split the 

 woodwork in the nailing of the tin ridge-capping. A fall in the 

 roof about 2i inches and a 1-inch eave will be ample for all 

 weather purposes. Gable-end roofs are great harbours for 

 spiders. 



THE QUILT. 



Place a piece of American leather-cloth between the cover and 

 the top of the frames, the leather side downwards in the summer 

 months, and the cloth side downwards during winter. This leather 

 quilt has many advantages. If it be a flat top cover the quilt 

 prevents the bees glueing the top bar of the frames to the movable 

 roof of the hive. In the case of a cottage roof it prevents the bees 

 going up and building underneath it. In either case the cover 

 is removed with more freedom and without jarring the hive, and 

 thus irritating the bees. Taking the quilt by one corner and grad- 

 ually peeling off, prevents the light suddenly flashing on the 

 bees.. It also subdues the anger of a bad-tempered colony. By 

 the aid of a quilt a bee-keeper can manipulate his bees with far 

 greater freedom and security. 



FULL-SIZE BAR-FRAME. 



These can now be purchased in the flat so cheaply that the 

 home-made amateur article is only used by bee-keepers in the 

 remote corners of the State, or by persons who have a deal of 

 spare time on their hands. In previous pages I have objected 

 to the use of self -spacing bar-frames, and the reasons are there 

 given. Briefly, they are these : These frames can only be made by 

 machinery or practical tradesmen. Of course, if they are pur- 

 chased that is not a valid objection, but sometimes it is found to 

 be absolutely necessary to space closer than the orthodox bee- 

 space between the frame. Self -spacing bar-frames cannot be so 

 manipulated. This objection is a valid one. Again, any small 

 bit of soft wood can be run out for the construction of frames, 



