THOUSAND ANSWERS 
105 
A. \ our plan will work all right. But you don’t need to have 
any kerf in the bottom-bar, and then you won’t need to have it as 
thick as the top-bar. Indeed, if you wax the foundation, top and 
bottom, you will not need kerfs either place. I have some frames 
without the split bottom-bar, and it works all right. You may say 
you want the kerf to hold the splint. I never yet put a splint in 
a kerf, and see no need of it. Of course, the top-bar must be 
thick, kerf or no kerf. 
' S y ° ur °P' nion of th e use of the Miller or “metal- 
spaced frame with top-bars seven-eighths inch square for any 
location, either comb or extracted honey, the idea being that the 
combs could be trimmed to the proper thickness with the narrow 
bar, while the knife would not work against the metal or nails, 
and at the same time the frame might be used for producing comb 
honey? 
A. It might work satisfactorily; but only after trial could one 
be sure about it. How much the metal spacers would be in the 
way of an uncapping-knife would depend upon their construction. 
If there is metal at each end on each side, there would be trouble. 
As you know, I use common nails as spacers. These are only on 
one end on each side of the frame, and by starting the knife at 
the end where the spacers are, there ought to be little danger of 
sinking the knife on the metal. I have seen in foreign bee-papers 
mention of metal spacers that were removable, being taken off 
for extracting, and then put on again upon returning to the hive. 
Q. How thick should the follower be in order to hold the 
frames solidly together? 
A. Strictly speaking, the frames are never held solidly to- 
gether. They are crowded closely together against one side, but 
there is left a loose space at the other side between the dummy 
and the side of the hive. No possible harm can come from this 
except that it allows a little movement when hives are hauled 
over very rough roads, but I have never had any trouble in that 
way. The dummy is five-sixteenths of an inch thick. 
Q. How wide were the top-bars of the unspaced frame for- 
merly in use by you? 
A. Seven-eighths of an inch. 
Q. Did you find disadvantages in the unspaced frame other 
than those mentioned in your book? 
A. Yes, there was at least one other. As the frames hung en- 
tirely free, in time there was a little warping of some of the top- 
bars. Every slight twist of the top-bar would allow quite a bit of 
