86 FIFTY YBAES AMONG THE BEES 



such a depth that the head remains projecting out a fourth of 

 an inch. 



Each frame has four spacing nails. A nail is driven into 

 each end of the top-bar on opposite sides, the nail being about 

 an inch and a half from the extreme end of the top-bar, and a 

 fourth of an inch from its upper surface. About two and a 

 fourth inches from the bottom of the frame a nail is driven 

 into each end-bar, these nails being also on opposite sides. Hold 

 the frame up before you in its natural position, each hand hold- 

 ing one end of the top-bar, and the two nails at the right end 

 will be on the side from you, while the two nails at the left end 

 will be on the side nearest you. 



The object of having the nails so heavy is so that they may 

 not be driven further into the wood when the frames are crowd- 

 ed hard together. Once in a great while the wood is split by 

 having so heavy a nail driven, and if such a nail could be 

 obtained it would be better to have a lighter nail with a head 

 a fourth of an inch thick, so that it could be driven automati- 

 cally, to place without the need of a gauge, and without the pos- 

 sibility of being driven further in by any amount of crowding. 



I have never tried the metal spacers now used on what are 

 still called Hoffman frames, but it seems to me they must be an 

 immense improvement over the original Hoffman frames, such 

 as I had. I think, however, I should still prefer such a nail as 

 I have mentioned, because there is less opposing surface, and so 

 less chance for propolis. Such nails are in u'se in Europe. 



Objection has been made to metal spacers because they are 

 in the way of the uncapping-knif e. But why should I, who do 

 not use an uncapping knife, be denied the frame that is best for 

 my use, because, forsooth, it doesn't suit an uncapper? Yet I 

 must say I am very skeptical as to the objections to metal 

 spacers on even extracting frames. The spacers are only at 

 one end of the frame at each side, and if the knife starts at the 

 spacer-end it does not seem necessary to dull it on the spacers. 

 I have tried it enough to form something of an opinion, and I 

 have been told by those who ought to know that the objection 

 is a thing largely of imagination. 



