66 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
cost, their disadvantages are numerous. At first they 
work freely, but every time a frame is moved the 
propolis is drawn out into strings, to be squeezed flat 
between their adjacent faces [ef) when the frames are 
once more pressed into position, until the latter be- 
come literally fixed, and can only be freed by a wrench, 
which irritates the stock, and in turn disturbs the 
operator. Bees getting beneath the lower side of 
the metal end, as the frame is replaced, cannot be 
seen, and so crushing is inevitable. Others, again, are 
jammed between the “ends’’ themselves, unless much 
time be taken ; while not a few remain between and 
beneath the lugs, to be imprisoned and perish if the 
quilt be put on over them. So great is the contact 
surface, that the least propolisation prevents the frames 
being pushed backwards and forwards in number ; 
while it will become apparent, during our progress, 
that keeping the frames at a stereotyped distance is 
more a fault than a virtue. When the extractor is 
used, the metal end must be removed and replaced ; 
yet it is true that this, though troublesome, is not a 
matter of difficulty, as projecting edges are cast on 
the interior faces ; so that, as the “ end ” is pushed on 
to the ear, grooves {gr) are cut into the yielding wood, 
permitting it to be easily slipped off, and returned to 
its position, fixed for all practical purposes. 
About fourteen years since, the Author introduced 
the metal runner (;;zr, Fig. 22), consisting of a strip 
of stiff tin or zinc, nailed to the hive side, and raising 
the frame end Jin., practically stopping propolising 
on the under side of the lug. In those days, a 
crown board — i.e., a wooden cover, was used instead of 
