BEE MANUAL. 127 



Halve them together at the ends, and nail firmly, taking care 

 that the pieces are nailed squarely to each other. To make 

 the frame more secure, a broad piece of hoop iron should be 

 nailed across each corner. Two such frames are required, and 

 a few thin hardwood wedges. The inside measurement of the 

 frames will be Jin. longer and Jin. wider than the outside 

 dimensions of the hive. This extra space allows them to slip 

 over the parts easily, and gives room for wedging. 



NUCLEUS HIVE. 



This hive is used both for the purpose of rearing queens 

 and keeping spare ones in till required. 



Kg. 51 NUCLEUS HIVE, WITH COVER AND MAT. 



It is the same length and depth as the ordinary hive, but is 

 usually made to contain three frames only. It may be made 

 out of light material and in a more simple manner than the 

 ordinary hive. The bottom board can be nailed on, and the 

 entrance cut out of one end of hive ; the figure does not show 

 the bottom board. The width inside should be 4fin. or 5in. 

 to take three frames. A full explanation of the use of it is 

 given in the chapter on queen rearing. 



OBSERVATORY HIVES. 



There is no branch of entomology so interesting to the 

 ordinary individual as the natural history and habits of bees. 

 To the majority of people there is not a more pleasing sight 

 than the interior of a beehive during the busy season, if the 

 working of the bees can be observed leisurely without danger 

 of receiving a sting. To watch the queen surrounded by some 

 of her subjects as she moves in a stately manner from cell to 

 cell depositing her eggs ; to view the worker bees building 

 comb, bringing in and storing honey and pollen ; to see the 

 young bees gnawing their way out of the cells and first catch- 



