148 THE BEE-HIVES. 



the writers. The " Gallup " frame is used with success by 

 such practical Apiarists as G. M. Doolittle and O. Clute, 

 author of a charming little novel entitled ' ' The Blessed 

 Bees," under the nom de plume of "John Allen." The 

 "American" and "Adair" frames are somewhat in use 

 also. The " Closed-End Quinby " (285) is not a hanging 

 frame, but it is nevertheless used by such bee-keepers as 

 Messrs. L. C. Root, Hetherington, Bingham, etc. 



300. It is evident that profit can be derived from bee- 

 culture with almost any style of frame ; but it is certain 

 also, that, in every pursuit, some conditions produce better 

 effects than others, under the same circumstances. 



In Apiculture, as in everything else, we should try to ob- 

 tain the best results with the least labor and expense, and 

 these can only be attained by studying the habits of the 

 bee, and complying with them, as far as is practicable. 



The combs of the brood-chamber, or main apartment of 

 the hive, are used by the bees to raise their young, and to 

 store their food for Winter. The size of frames must be 

 considered, with reference to this. 



301. We have seen (163) that the queen lays her eggs 

 in a circle. In fact, it is necessary that she should do so, 

 in order to lose no time in hunting for cells ; else how could 

 she lay three thousand eggs, or more, per day? Avery 

 shallow frame will break the circle, and compel her to lose 

 time. Iri a comb five inches deep, for instance, and fifteen 

 or sixteen inches long, the largest circular area contains 

 less than twenty square inches, or five hundred and fifty 

 worker-cells on each side. When these are occupied with 

 eggs, the queen, while hunting for empty cells, will find 

 wood above and below, instead of comb, at every half turn, 

 and will lose not only time, but eggs ; for, in the busy sea- 

 son, her eggs have to drop, like mature fruit, if not laid in 

 the cells. Loss of eggs is loss of bees; loss of bees at the 

 proper time is loss of honey. 



