Apparatus 
29 
To strengthen the combs, it is customary to wire the 
frames with fine (No. 30 gauge, tinned) wire. The wires 
are generally stretched horizontally, and most frames as 
they come from the manufacturer are pierced for wiring. 
After the wires are stretched tight, the foundation is fas¬ 
tened to the top of the frame 
and the wire is imbedded in the 4 ?'" 
foundation, usually by pressure. ^ 
the spur imbedder (Tig. 23) is Fig. 23. — Spur wire-imbedder. 
generally used but is not espe¬ 
cially good. Heat generated by a weak electric current is 
sometimes used, but perhaps the best method is to run 
along the wire a small warm soldering iron with a notch 
in the point. 
Whatever style of hive is adopted, the parts must be 
accurately cut so that the bee-spaces are of the right size 
and so that the apiary equipment may be interchangeable 
throughout. Hives or frames of different sizes or of im¬ 
proper dimensions are perhaps the worst inconveniences 
that can be found in an apiary. The materials used should 
be the best, for the equipment is 
often used for many years. As a 
rule, it is better to buy hives and 
frames and, in fact, practically all 
the necessary supplies from the 
regular manufacturers of such ar¬ 
ticles. This advice is not given 
as an advertisement for the manu¬ 
facturer but is based on the rec¬ 
ollection of ill-spaced, inaccurately 
cut, home-made outfits which have 
been encountered in traveling 
among beekeepers. Obviously, an expert wood-worker can 
do as well as the regular manufacturer, but even then the cost 
of home-made supplies usually exceeds the price charged 
by the dealers, when one considers the time consumed. 
The outside of hives should be painted to protect them 
Fig. 24. — Smoker. 
