BEE MANUAL. 



12 



HIVE CRAMP. 



To secure the best results in utility and appearance, it is 

 just as necessary to be as careful when putting the body of 

 the hive together as when making the different parts. 

 Although the ends and sides will, if properly made according 

 to the instructions given, go together nicely, something more 

 than hand pressure is required to hold them in place while 

 nailing them. As each body may at any time be required to 

 take the place of a top or lower box in any hive throughout 

 the apiary, all of them should be so firmly fastened as to stand 

 ordinary knocking about without getting out of the square. 



The following engraving shows a very useful hive cramp 

 atht I have had in use for some years : — 



Fig. 50.— HIVE CRAMP. 



It is made by taking four pieces of timber 6in. x 2in. three 

 feet long for uprights, and two 4in. x 3in. five feet six inches 

 long for horizontal pieces to form the platform and to bolt the 

 uprights to. Two uprights are halved into each horizontal 

 piece two feet ten inches apart, and sixteen inches from the 

 upper ends of uprights. The uprights are let in to the hori- 

 zontal pieces on tne inside, as shown. A scarf four inches 

 wide by three-quarters of an inch deep is made in each up- 

 right. Another scarf six inches wide by one and a-quarter inch 

 deep is made in each horizontal piece ; so that when the pieces 

 are put in position they are flush with each other. All parts 

 go together on their flat. Two 4in. x 3in. four feet six inches 

 long are fastened in a similar manner to the lower ends of 



