THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
117 
aim at perfection ought to try and introduce. It 
has just been mentioned that bees will fix together 
parts that are very near each other. They there- 
fore fasten down the frame-ends to their resting- 
places. This is very inconvenient, and may be 
almost wholly prevented by making the frame- 
ends rest on the edge of a stout strip of zinc, the 
back and front of the hive being cut a little lower, 
so as to give % in. space below the frame ends. 
This enables us to push the frames backwards and 
forwards on the metal strip with the greatest ease. 
We can also secure the correct distances between 
the frames by driving pins into them on opposite 
sides, and at the opposite ends, or by affixing 
strips of wood, forming what are termed broad 
shoulders, to the frames, and thereby preventing 
the bees from passing outside the zinc. The 
frames being made in. wide, the pins should 
stand out in., and the frames will fit equally 
well either way round. The next advance should 
be giving to the hive double sides, with a small 
space between, to be filled with dry chaff or cork- 
dust,* or left as air-space. The inner and outer 
sides joined by slips of wood at the top and 
bottom edges. In such hives bees winter far 
better than they do in single-sided ones, because 
the heat they produce is completely prevented 
from escaping ; and the superior conrlition in 
which they will be found in the spring will amply 
repay the extra cost. The last device we shall 
mention here is to overcome the difficulty without 
which a frame from a very full hive cannot easily 
be removed. Several plans have been devised to 
accomplish this ; but by making the hive wider 
(or longer, as the case may be, according to the 
direction which it is intended the frames shall 
take) than the ten frames require, and inserting 
two half-inch boards, called “ division-boards ,” 
one on each side, and fitting close all round — 
either of which to be removed when examining a 
hive— we obtain space and avoid all danger of 
injuring the workers or the queen. The latter 
accident would always be serious, and every care 
should be taken to reduce its probability. 
If the hive is to stand under cover it is now 
nearly complete, but if in the open, it must not 
only be thoroughly painted on the outside, hut it 
must have some form of roof. Under this roof 
space should be provided for racks or sections, 
boxes, or glasses, all included under the name of 
“ Supers,” and which are intended to be filled with 
comb-honey. The roof, or cover, is commonly 
called the “super case.’ If the hives are made 
of bought boxes, a second box, turned over the 
first, will make a capital super-case ; but it must 
be battened at its edges to keep it in position and 
prevent rain and snow driving in, and it must also 
be waterproofed above. This waterproofing may 
be simply done thus. Pitch the box all over the 
outside, and cover it with some kind of paper. 
Heat a flat-iron, and iron the paper down. The 
pitch will melt and soak through the paper, while 
it will run into and fill all cracks. The box so 
treated will remain rain-proof for years. A 
neater super-case can be made with a sloping roof. 
• Cork-dust may be bought off egg-merchants very 
cheaply. 
We have already said that the hive should be 
painted outside— and this should be done three 
times at least — -with some light colour ; but, except 
for appearance, it is not necessary that the wood 
should be planed, for as it leaves the saw it will 
drink up more paint, will last as long, and be less 
likely to blister and shrink. 
The addition of a couple of holes, covered with 
perforated zinc, will give the necessary ventilation 
during the extreme heat of summer, and make our 
super-case complete. 
Short legs can be screwed on to the sides of the 
hive, and it will then be independent of a stand. 
With one caution we close this chapter. If a 
swarm were put into the hive as described, it 
would build its combs, in all probability, across 
the frames rather than in them, ami an examina- 
tion would be impossible. To understand how 
perfectly straight combs are to be obtained, read 
“Guides and Comb Foundation,” in a future 
chapter. 
IV.— Quieting Beks. 
Before we can have any real pleasure amongst 
our bees, we must learn to control them. Some 
are so good-tempered, that with gentle yet con- 
fident handling, we can do almost anything with 
them without running much risk of being stung 
(this is particularly the case with pure Italian or 
Ligurian bees) : while others are naturally irri- 
table ; but none are so cross that they cannot be 
subdued in the way now to be explained. All 
country people know how little disposed bees are 
to sting at swarming time. This is because they 
are all full of honey ; and it is now well-known that 
whenever a bee is in this condition it will not 
sting unless it is actually injured. 
If, then, before opening a hive, or lifting up a 
skep, we can make the bees fill themselves, we 
shall have them in our power. Blowing a little 
smoke amongst them will do this. it is not 
desirable to use tobacco, and a very little smoke 
will suffice. We take a roll of brown paper, or 
old cotton rag, or corderoy, set it smouldering, 
and blow some of the smoke in at the hive en- 
trance. Startled by the smoke, the bees run to 
their honey, and if we lift the quilt or turn up the 
skep a minute or so afterwards, we shall find 
numbers of them with their heads buried in the 
cells, drinking it up as fast as they are able. 
We now commence to do whatever may be neces- 
sary, giving from time to time more smoke if the 
bees begin to show their tempers. It is very 
desirable to be able to give smoke whenever 
required, and for this purpose the owner of a lew 
hives would find it good economy to buy a 
smoker. The one known as “ Bingham’s’ is 
much better than most, if not the very best, and 
will burn without going out as long as the supply 
of fuel lasts. A veil giving full protection to the 
face made Ire made of coarse, black net (costing 
fo'irpence per yard). A piece of this, about 27 in. 
by 24 in., is made into a bottomless bag ; a hem 
is added round the lop and an elastic put in. 
This is worn over the hat, tucked in about the 
neck, and the coat buttoned up. The hands may 
