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Bee-keeping for Small Farmers. 



hive that is not made to take the " standard " frame of the 

 British Bee-Keepers' Association. In urging this precaution 

 we refer only to the internal dimensions of the hive's brood- 

 chamber or body-box, and to the outside measure of the frame. 

 Thickness of top-bar and width or strength of side and bottom 

 bars are of less moment and may be left to individual preference, 

 but the outside measure of the frame must be 14 in. long by 

 %\ in. deep. Before deciding on the " type " of hive to be used, 

 a personal visit to a hive-maker of repute — or preferably to a 

 Bee and Honey Show, where there is a large and keen com- 

 petition among leading bee- appliance makers whose goods are 

 onview — will be very useful. Then, after a choice is made, a 

 few hives (only a few) may be ordered in the flat, ready for 

 nailing up at home. Such a hive would, of course, not include 

 surplus chambers, but would simply consist of stand, floor-board, 

 body-box (fitted with ten or eleven frames), quilts, lift, and 

 roof, and may be had in the flat at prices varying from about 

 6s. or 7s. upwards. 



On the other hand, the man who decides to make his own hives 

 should select the one he prefers, and purchase it from a good 

 maker as a pattern from which to work. This will be found 

 true economy, as enabling him to choose the best kind of wood 

 for the purpose, and reducing the cost to that of material only, 

 except for frames, which must be machine-made for accuracy, 

 and which may be purchased in the flat, dovetailed, and ready 

 for putting together, at less than one penny each. 



Some bee-keepers, to whom the saving of cash means much, 

 have constructed strong, useful hives — good enough for all 

 practical purposes — from such unpromising materials as used 

 boxes, which latter cost only a few pence each. 



An instance of this is recorded in the British Bee Journal of 

 April 30th last year, where we find described in full detail, 

 with working measurements of each part, a complete frame-hive 

 (except for the surplus-chambers, in which honey is stored for 

 removal when full). It comprises stand, floor-board, outer-case, 

 body-box (or brood-chamber), lift, and roof. These various parts 

 were made from (1) an egg box, (2) a lobster box, and (3) a 

 "Quaker oats" box, the three boxes costing is. id. It would 

 take up too much space to print the full particulars of construe- 



