HIVES FOR BEE-KEEPERS. 
67 
the quilt (^), giving a space above the frames of fully 
Jin., so that propolisation only occurred between the 
hive side and the end of the ear. To reduce this, the 
Author cut off the frame end at an angle of about 45°. 
Both of these plans have been extensively adopted, 
along with the wire nail distance-keepers, which were 
placed at the opposite sides and ends of the top bar, 
very near to the upright of the frames, which by this 
arrangement fitted equally well in any order, and 
with either face of each comb towards the operator. 
These distance-keepers may be either panel-pins, bell- 
hangers’ staples {ds, B, Fig. 23), or screw-rings 
projecting far enough to keep the combs at the de- 
termined distance from each other. Thus arranged, 
the frames can be slidden backwards and forwards, 
either singly, or five or six at a time, and any one 
removed without jar, or the smallest risk to a bee. 
In reference to the tin runner, the advantages of 
which to the operator are so apparent, a want of 
scientific knowledge has given voice to a statement 
that metal is injurious inside a hive, because it 
conducts away the heat. Metal would, undoubtedly, 
act prejudicially if only partially within ; the warm 
air in such a case giving up its heat to the metal, which 
would readily part with it to the air without. If 
the metal strip be wholly within the hive, however, it 
stands at the temperature of the interior air, from which 
it can, in consequence, abstract no heat. In a frosty 
atmosphere, e.g.. If a half-crown or other coin be held 
between the thumb and finger, the metal will quickly 
cool them to numbness ; but if the coin be placed 
in the palm, and covered by the fingers. Its 
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