1390 



Department of Ageicultuee 



which may also contain a bee escape, with flap to cover same when 

 not in use. Enameled drilling or duct used with the enameled 

 side next the bees also makes a fine under cover, but is not as dur- 

 able as wood. 



All hives in an apiary should be of the same size, accurately 

 made, of good material, and well painted with some light color 

 for durability and better appearance. Whatever style of hive is 

 adopted by the beginner should be adhered to, as changes in 

 equipment are expensive. 



In nailing up hives care must be exercised to place the metal 

 rabbets in proper position. Place the heart side of the boards out 

 to the weather. JSTail Hoffman frames with the " V " edge in 

 opposite directions at each end, holding the " V " toward the 

 fingers of the right hand in putting together, and make all frames 

 alike so that they may be reversed, end for end, and be perfectly 

 interchangeable. 



QUEEN EXCLUDEES 



The queen excluder is constructed in several styles, namely, the 



wood and wire with nar- 

 row strips of each alter- 

 aating and built up into 

 a board the size of the 

 hive ; the wood-zinc, con- 

 sisting of strips of wood 

 and perforated zinc built 

 up in the same manner, 

 and sheets of perforated 



zinc either plain or wood 

 Fig. 43. Queen Excluder ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^f ^^^ 



hive. In use these full- 

 sized sheets are undesir- 

 able as they are too flimsy 

 and frequently become 

 kinked in removing from 

 the hive after being 



thoroughly propolized. - -^ 



The built-up boards are much more satisfactory and durable. The 

 wires for this purpose are secured at the proper distance apart and 

 the zinc perforated at exactly the right size — about 5/32 of an 

 inch in width - — to keep the queen below, but allow the workers to 



Fig. 44. Queen Excluder Metal 



