84 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



SELF-SPACING FRAMES. 



Then there came a time of struggling for some self -spac- 

 ing arrangement, closed-end, partly closed-end, and what not. I 

 tried a good many different kinds. Closed-ends were probably 

 warmer for wintering, and were certainly self-spacing, but it 

 took time to avoid killing bees, and the trouble with propolis 

 was no small matter. Half -closed ends were the same in kind, 

 only different in degree. 



Of these last the Hoffman is probably the most popular, 

 and I put in use enough to fill a few hives, and some of them 

 are still in use. When new they work very nicely, but as propo- 

 lis accumulates the difficulty of handling increases, and the 

 frames become more and more crowded, until it is almost im- 

 possible to get out the dummy, the easier thing being to pry out 

 with a good deal of force the first frame, either with or with- 

 out the dummy. Indeed, the difficulty of getting out the frames 

 is so great that the sight of a set of Hoffman frames when the 

 cover is removed always produces something like a shudder. 



Although I could not have anything in the line of closed- 

 ends I wanted the advantage of the self-spacing and not find- 

 ing anything on the market to suit me I was, in a manner, 

 compelled to adopt something of my own "get-up," and so for 

 several years I have used with much satisfaction the Miller 

 frame (Fig. 95). 



MILLER FRAME. 



The frame is of course of the regular Langstroth size, 

 17% X &%. Top-bar, bottom-bar, and end-bars are uniform in 

 width, 1% inches throughout their entire dimensions. The top- 

 bar is % inch thick, with the usual saw-kerf to receive the 

 foundation, and close beside this is another kerf to receive the 

 wedge that fastens in the foundation. The length of the top- 

 bar is 18% inches, and % ^ 9/16 is rabbeted out of each end 

 to receive the end-bar. The end-bar is 8 9/16 x IVg x %. The 

 bottom -bar consists of two pieces, each 17% x V2 x %. This 

 allows Vs inch between the two parts to receive the foundation, 

 making the bottom-bar 1% inches wide when nailed. 



