HIVES FOR BEE-KEEPERS, 
6l 
frames is placed waterproof cloth, a piece of Hessian, 
or unbleached calico, according to the season ; while, 
at all times when two supers are not on the hive 
(see Fig. i8), a chaff-tray (c/. Figs. 17 and 19) — un- 
speakably superior to carpeting — is used over the 
frames. This chaff-tray consists of a ring of wood, 
3in. or 4in. deep, with a bottom of rather loose sacking ; 
so that, when it is placed in position, the chaff beds 
itself down completely over the top of the hive, fitting 
any irregularity, and preventing all needless leak of 
heated air. Fig. 19 shows 0^ a flour cake, under the chaff- 
tray, and explains the statement just made. The loss 
of numberless colonies is no doubt traceable to defects 
in the top covering, the non-conductive qualities and 
close fitting of which are far more important than 
those of the hive side itself. A rim of wood [sc) gives 
considerable shelter to the bees during any manipula- 
tion in windy weather, while it so places the roof-piece 
that the latter can still be opened and closed on 
hinges if a doubling-box carrying eleven Association 
Standards, or two supers (Fig. 18), rest upon the 
ordinary frames. The roof-piece is hinged, and has 
a short chain attached to it, so that it is retained at 
a right angle to its closed position (see Fig. 17), thus 
affording ample table-room for necessary tools, such 
as the smoker or spray-producer. When the roof- 
piece is shut down, the fastening [f, Figs. 17 and 18) 
acts automatically. It consists of a brass ring, with 
a screw-plate, fixed to the roof-piece, and a horizontal 
ring on the super case. One springs over the other 
at the moment of shutting, and prevents the possi- 
bility of wind opening the hive ; while a padlock may 
