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 93in. wide, cut off 
in lengths of 14}in. (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 
Fig, 109.—HIVE WITH DIVISION BOARDS. 
side of them, as shown in Fig. 109.—a 4 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 and 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 
