33 



frame (9% x 17%). One of the outstanding treatures of this type of 

 hive is the size of spaces between the frames, side walls and supers 

 which are of sufficient size to allow easy passage of bees. In a space 

 of this size bees will rarely build comb or deposit propolis. In select- 

 ing hives, it is important that the materials be of the best, all parts 

 accurately made so that all hives and hive parts are interchangeable. 

 All hives and hive parts should be of the same style and size and aa 

 simple as it is possible to make them, so as to facilitate operations. 

 As a rule it is best to buy hives and frames from a manufacturer of 

 bee supplies rather than make them, unless one is an expert wood- 

 worker. Even then, it is best to buy the frames as they can be pur- 

 chased at a lower rate than the amount of labor and materials would 

 cost in home manufacture. 



Hives should always be painted to protect them from the weather. 

 Experience has proven that in order to prevent excessive heat absorp- 

 tion by the colony, in hot weather, the light colors are the most 

 satisfactory. Avoid red or black in all instances. 



DETAILS OF A 10 FRAME LANGSTBOTH HIVE. 



The modern movable frame hive is made 

 up of the following parts. Bottom board, 

 brood chamber or hive body, containing ten 

 frames; super or storage room either of 

 same dimentions as the brood chamber fur 

 extracting, or have the height for comb 

 honey sections of shallow extracting 

 frames. 



In the construction of the hive body it 

 may either be dovetailed or rabbetted at 

 the corners. Whero hives are made at 

 (By A. I. Root Co.) home it is recommended that the wood- 



Figure 7 worker build one of rabbetted corner type, 



Hive-Body With Plain unless machinery for dovetailing is avail- 

 HoSman Frames. able. The rabbeted corner hive has the 



advantage over the dovetailed in as much as it does not have as many 

 joints exposed to the weather. Both hives should be nailed on each 

 side to prevent warping. 



FRAME. 



Some apiarists prefer a plain hanging frame. These are only satis- 

 factory where the beekeeper has become skilled in spacing. For all 

 general purposes the Hoffman self-spacing frame is the better, especial- 

 ly for the beginner; for they are so spaced that only ten and no more 

 will conveniently fit the hive body. Self-spacing franies prevent ir- 

 regular, narrow, imperfect combs, and with the use of foundation 

 the combs are always built straight. A large part of the success ob- 

 tained by the apiarist is largely due to standard equipment, i. e. 

 having all hive bodies, bottom boards, frames of one size and one 



