CONSTRUCTION OF FRAMES. 43 
mentioned one. Each side bar can then be nailed by one nail driven 
from above through the top bar, and two driven through the side bar 
itself into the end of the top 
bar. The bottom bar can then 
be nailed on, or, better still, 
cut short enough to permit it 
to be inserted between the 
side bars, the nails holding it 
to be driven through the lat- 
ter. Nailing frames loosely 
or without getting them ex- 
actly in true brings with it 
great disadvantages. If only 
slightly outofshapethey may - 
swing together at the bottom 
or touch the sides of the hive, 
and in either case will be 
glued fast by the bees; alsoin MR See 
the first instance the combs, Fig. 26.—Lock-joint chaff hive. (From Gleanings in Bee 
which are always built per- polars) 
pendicularly, will not be wholly within the frames. To avoid these 
troubles it is essential, first, that the parts for the frames be cut very 
accurately; second, that the frame be in exact shape at the time of 
nailing; and third, that the nails be driven in quite firmly; long, slen- 
der, flat-headed wire nails being necessary to secure proper stiffness of 
the frame. Nails 14 to 13 inches long made of No. 16 or No, 17 wire, or 
Ad. fine wire nails are the right size. Nailing in a form, such asis shown 
-by fig. 25, is therefore advisable. Greater ease in withdrawing the 
frames is secured by making the 
bottom of the frame one-fourth inch 
less in width than the upper part. 
A round-headed nail or a curved 
wire-staple driven through the side 
bar at each lower corner into the 
endof the bottom bar and left pro- 
jecting one-fourth inch will also 
: facilitate the removal of frames and 
es aps their insertion in the hive without 
the crushing of bees, and hence 
allow more rapid manipulation. (Fig. 24, pn.) 
The hive to hold the frames should be the plainest kind of a box, the 
frames resting on rabbets made in the upper edges. Constructing it 
with lock joints, as shown in fig. 26, or by halving together the ends 
of the boards, as in fig. 27, and, in either case, nailing in both direc- 
tions makes a strong hive body. The latter may be single-walied for 
mild climates or where cellar wintering is practiced; but for severe 
regions it is advisable to have permanent double walls with the inter- 
Fic. 27.—Manner of nailing hives. (Original.) 
