HIVES FOR BEE-KEEPERS. 
87 
Hive-construction now seems to be passing into a 
new phase. Up to the present we have referred to two 
generically distinct frames only — the standing frame, 
or leaf, of Huber, and the hanging frame of Lang- 
stroth. To Huber the bee was of surpassing interest, 
in its anatomy, its instincts, and its architecture. His 
enthusiasm was that of the scientist, while honey 
and wax, that stimulate the perseverance of the pro- 
fessional bee-man, he almost left out of view. It is 
not unlikely, then, that although he failed to so modify 
his frame as to make it practical, it yet contained 
possibilities which he left unobserved ; and the fact 
that so accomplished and honourable an apiarian as 
Mr. Quinby, after using the Langstroth for many 
years, abandoned it in favour of a species of standing 
frame, of which Huber’s must be regarded as the 
antitype, obliges us to inquire into the reasons of 
his preference for the latter, especially when we call 
to mind that he had no trade interest to serve, and 
that he has been followed in his particular choice by 
some of the most successful and intelligent honey- 
producers of the American continent. Beyond this, 
although it is as yet impossible to determine the 
exact direction in which new developments may 
lead, it needs no gift of prophecy to see that the 
principle of inversion, which has already received a 
passing notice, will immediately modify our methods 
of manipulating comb honey, and that it will probably, 
in many apiaries, also extend to our body-boxes. If this 
be so, the hanging frame, which depends upon the 
force of gravity for keeping it in position, must either 
be rotated independently of that which supports it 
