126 



MANUAL Of THE Al'IARY. 



move when the hive is moved. But with their use we are 

 not compelled to pry the frames loose, and are not so likely 

 to irritate the bees, while making an examination of the con- 

 tents of the hive, which arguments are conclusive with me. 



Any one who is not a skilled mechanic, especially if he has 

 not a buzz-saw, had better join the sides of his hives after 

 the style of making common dry-goods boxes (Fig. 30). In 

 this case, the Sides not rabbeted should project by, else the 

 corners will have to be stopped up where they were rabbeted. 



The mechanic may prefer to bevel the ends of the boards, 

 and unite them by a miter-joint (Fig. 33). This looks a little 

 better, otherwise is not superior to the other method. It is 

 difficult to form accurate joints — and as everything about 

 the hive should be accurate and uniform — this style is 

 not to be recommended to the general apiarist. To miter 

 with a hand-saw unless one is very skillful, requires a perfect 

 miter-box, and, even then, much care is required to secure 

 perfect joints. With a buzz-saw this is easier. We have 



Fig. 31. 



Bevel-Gauge. 



only to make a carrier as follows : Take two boards (Fig. 31, 

 a, b), each one foot in length, and dove-tail them together^ 

 as though with two others you meant to make a square box. 

 Be sure that they form a perfect right-angle. Then bevel 

 the ends opposite the angle, and unite these with a third 



