THE EVOLUTION OF THE BEE-HIVE. 195 



the superficial measurement being about 12 incites less than that 

 of the Heddon, that is, about 62 inches. 



These shallow frames that are used in the supers of the Langs- 

 troth are becoming more and more general every season, and for 

 the reason it is not far to look. The internal heat of a hive has 

 much to do with its success. Roofs that are leaky and sides that 

 are cracked, so as to admit cold draughts of air to circulate within, 

 are always detrimental to early brood development. In the early 

 days of a coming honey flow, bees take more readily to shallow 

 frames than to those of deeper construction. The reason is, the 

 artificial starters are near the young brood. The more compactly 

 both the brood and the workers engaged in comb-building and 

 storage are, the more is the heat generated. It is estimated that 

 from 70° to 80° of heat are necessary for the secretion of wax. 

 Heat ascends ;' therefore the shallower the space the greater are 

 the conditions for the secretion of wax and the development of 

 brood. These are two important points in successful bee-keeping. 



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Shallow Frame. 



Again, one of the early difficulties with all frames, no matter 

 under what name or what the shape may have been, was that of 

 inducing the bees to attach the comb firmly to all four sides. The 

 more securely the comb within the frame is, the more is the dan- 

 ger of breakage minimised. To overcome this difficulty starters of 

 foundation comb have been used on the bottom bar similar to 

 those on the top one to induce the bees to continue the comb there. 

 Full sheets of foundation are also used towards the same end'. Of 

 course the primary use of full sheets of foundation is the saving of 

 Labour with the bees. The only alteration that the bottom bar has 

 undergone is that of from the full width to narrow. Bee space, or 

 a little more, must be left between the bottom bar of the frame and 

 the bottom board of the hive. Where the wide bar is used it in- 

 tercepts the vision of the comb-building bees, for it is directly in a 

 line between the fine edge of the comb in course of construction 

 and the bottom board. In a state of nature there is always bee 

 space beneath every finished comb. The wide bottom bar to the 



