150 THE BEE-—HIVES. 
303. From the foregoing, it appears that a square frame 
is the best for breeding. But square frames are objection- 
able. If they are small, they do not have enough space in 
each frame for Winter supplies, above or behind the brood. 
If they are large, they are unhandy, and their depth makes 
them difficult to take out without crushing bees. We have 
used some sixty hives, American frames, 123128, for 
eighteen years or more, and this is our greatest objection to 
them. 
304. A deeper frame is still more objectionable for the 
same reason,* and because the surplus cases on top are too 
remote from the brood. (278.) In early Spring, the bees 
have more difficulty in keeping the lower end of such frames 
warm, as the heat always rises, and a part of it is wasted, 
warming up the stores, which in this hive are all above the 
brood. In hot weather, the combs are also more apt to 
break down from heat and weight combined. Such a hive 
is deficient in top-surface for the storing of honey in boxes. 
305. It is thus evident, that Mr. Langstroth and Mr. 
Quinbyf were right in using frames of greater length than 
depth, especially as these frames allow of more surplus 
room above the brood, a matter of some importance. 
306. But we must beware of excess in anything. A 
* The deeper the frames, the more difficult it is to make them hang true on 
the rabbets, and the greater the difficulty of handling them without crushing 
the bees or breaking the combs. 
+ The late Mr. M. Quinby, of St. Johnsville, New York, in calling my 
attention to some stocks, which he had purchased in box hives of this shape, 
informed me that bees wintered in them about as well as in tall hives, the bees 
drawing bark among their stores in cold weather, just as in tall hives they 
draw vp among them. My hive, as at first constructed, was fourteen and one- 
eighth inches from front to rear, eighteen and one-eighth inches from side to 
side, and nine inches deep, holding twelve frames. After Mr. Quinby called 
my attention to the wintering of bees in his long box-hives, I constructed one 
that measured twenty-four inches from front to rear, twelve inches from side 
to side, and ten inches deep, holding eight frames. I have since preferred to 
make my hives eighteen and one-eighth inches from front to rear, fourteen and 
one-eighth inches from side to side, and ten inches deep. Mr. Quinby pre- 
ferred to make my movable frames longer and deeper.—L. L. L. 
