MOVABLE-FRAME HIVES. 153 
smaller hives. But figures, based on facts, cannot lie. 
Smaller hives will do only in localities, where late Springs 
and short honey crops make it impossible for the queen to 
lav to the utmost of her capacity, before the time when 
her bees would be useful. 
313. Itis only by testing different sizes of hives and 
frames side by side, for years, on a large scale, and with 
the same management, as we have done, that the compari- 
son can be made serviceable. Our experiments prove also 
that small frames impede the laying of the queen. The 
brood-chamber of a large hive can easily be reduced in size, 
if need be; but a small hive cannot be enlarged at will, ex- 
cept by the addition of upper stories, which should properly 
be devoted to the storing of honey. 
314. In addition to the disadvantages of small frames 
and small hives already enumerated, another—and the 
greatest of all—is the excess of natural swarming which 
they cause. The leading advocates of small hives, some of 
whom are large honey producers, invariably acknowledge 
that they have too much natural swarming; nor is it to be 
wondered at, since swarming is mainly caused by the lack 
of breeding room for the queen. (406.) 
8315. The main criterion of a good farmer, is the care 
that he takes to improve his stock, by selecting the best an- 
imals as reproducers. If we use hives so narrow that we 
cannot discern which are our most prolific queens, and that 
they incite natural swarming, we are unable to improve our 
bees by selection. (452, 511.) 
316. The distance, between frames from center to 
center, can be varied, as we have seen before (214), from 
1% inches to 14, in the breeding apartment, of which we are 
now treating. In the surplus cases, it may be made much 
greater. 
317. The distance of 1} inches, advised by Mr. Quinby, 
is preferable for tworeasons: 
