A Description of the Bar-and-Frame-Hive | Page 5

to allow
the spindle before mentioned to pass through it. The end which forms
the front of the frame is open, so that any one of the bee-frames can be
run into the observation-frame, but may be closed by a piece of tin (d)
being slipt into the small grooves at c c. The observation-frame has two
pins, a, b, to fit into the 2/8 holes made along the bottom board of the
bee-box, shown by the figures, 1, 2, 3, &c., see Plate I, fig. 1, and also
two small bolts r and m; r, the upper one to fix into the holes above X
X X, &c., in the mahogany bar; (but this bolt is only used during the
operation of drawing out the bee-frames into the observation frame);
and the other bolt m at the back of the frame, to fasten into the 2/8
holes, a, a, a, &c., made in the lid, I J. When the two pins and the bolts
of the observation-frame have been adjusted and fixed, the groove in it
will be in a straight line with one of the grooves formed in the bottom
board of the box, consequently a bee-frame can be made to slide, by
means of the long spindle, in and out of the box, into the

observation-frame.
The use of this "observation frame" must now be explained more fully:
the top lid of the bee box, Plate I, fig. 1. G. H. being thrown up, will
screen the "operator" from the bees, which are flying in and out in the
front of the hive or box. The back lid, I. J., is let down, and supported
by the quadrants Q. Q., and forms a table, the box having been raised
from the ground by the four legs, L L L L. The observation frame is
placed opposite to whichever bee-frame is to be examined; the two pins,
a, b, fig. 3, running into the holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, &c., made in the bottom
board. The small bolts, Plate I, secured at the top, as at r, and the back
m: the long spindle, S, is run through the 2/8 hole in the back of the
observation frame, as at Z, and the end of the spindle screwed into the
screw socket t, at the back of the bee-frame w; the two pieces of tin on
the right and left of the bee-frame are pulled out (of course the
observation frame being empty, and having the piece of tin from its
front taken out), the operator holding by the handle, z, of the spindle,
gradually draws out the bee-frame into the observation frame, and after
examining the bees and comb, gently returns the bee-frame into its
groove in the floor-board: the two slips of tin are then replaced in the
backs of the bee-frames: the spindle is unscrewed and withdrawn, the
bolts are unfastened, the observation frame being kept firmly in its
place, held by the left hand of the operator, whilst with the right he runs
in the long slip of tin, d, fig. 3, into the front of the observation frame,
to keep the bees (escaped from the returned bee-frame), until the
observation frame is again fixed opposite to another bee-frame, when
the tin is withdrawn and the bolts fastened as before. It has been shown
that by these means, each bee-frame, and the bees and comb contained
in it, can be easily drawn out and examined, without interfering with
any other part of the hive, or occasioning the loss of a single bee.
The whole of the interior of the hive is thus open to inspection at any
moment, and a choice can be made of the combs containing the most
honey, or the bee owner enabled to trace the devastation of the honey
moth, and ascertain the presence of any other enemy, and this without
the assistance of smoke, which must be injurious both to the bees and
their brood.

When the bee-frame is returned and secured, the observation-frame is
removed; then the lid, I J, being shut up and bolted, and the upper lid,
G H, closed, the box may be locked up. When the bees have been shut
in with the slide in the front, the hive or box is ready to be transported
anywhere, to procure new pasturage for them, which, as every
experienced bee-keeper knows, is of the greatest benefit to prolong
their honey-harvest.
Perfect protection from wet and the vicissitudes of temperature, is
partly ensured by the external bee-box being made of well-seasoned
wood; poplar is recommended as of a looser grain than fir, deal, &c.,
and consequently, not so great a conductor of heat; but the objection to
wooden bee-hives or boxes, for being more easily affected by the