MOVABLE-FRAME HIVKS. 158 



smiiller hives. But figures, based on facts, cannot lie. 

 Smaller hives will do only in localities, where late Springs 

 an<i short honey crops make it impossible for the queen to 

 lay to the utmost of her capacity, before the time when 

 her bees would be useful. 



313. It is 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.) 



315. 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 

 If inches to IJ, in the breeding apartment, of which we are 

 now treating. In the surplus cases, it may be made much 

 greater. 



317. The distance of IJ inches, advised by Mr. Quinby, 

 is preferable for two reasons : 



