BEE MANUAL. 



233 



made as snug as possible in a few minutes, by the use of these 

 boards. I make them out of an inch board 9|in. wide, cut off 

 in lengths of 14Jin. (the inside width of a hive). The two 

 ends, a A, and bottom, B, are bevelled so as to leave a thin edge 

 all round to come in contact with the hive. This enables a 

 person to fix them in more readily without injury to the bees. 

 A top bar of a frame is nailed on the upper edge of each, so 

 that when they are placed in the hive they should touch the 

 bottom board and sides of the hive, and the top bar should 

 rest lightly on the tin supports, the same as the frames, to keep 

 them steady and in place. When contracting a hive for a 

 small colony, remove or place at the side all the unoccupied 

 combs, leaving just as many in the centre as are sufficient for 

 present requirements ; then place a division board on each 



HIVE WITH DIVISION BOARDS. 



•ide of them, as shown in Fig. 109. — A A are the division boards 

 raised in order to show them. Some bee-keepers use chaff 

 division boards, made by tacking calico or other light material 

 over both sides of a close-fitting broad frame and filling in 

 between with chaff, but the one I have described is easily made, 

 will last for years, and is all that is required, at least in any 

 part of Australasia. An extra mat or so should be placed in each 

 hive aad everything done to make them snug and warm. 



An examination of the hives should be made once a week, 

 or as often as may be necessary ; if food is being given to any 

 of the colonies they may require looking through every day or 



