The stand and flight board a b, Fig. 616, should be made first; they are fixtures to the hive; 2 pieces of board, 4 in. wide and as thick as convenient (not less than 1 in.), are cut with one end slanting, the shorter side the same length as the outside width of the chest, the longer 6 in. more. They are nailed on edge underneath the bottom of the chest, and the flight board b, 7 1/2 in. by 1/2 in. and the same length as the chest, is nailed on the sloping ends. The entrance slit, 4 in. long and 3/8 in. high, can now be cut; it is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 614. In order to fit up the interior of the hive to receive the frames, 2 pieces of 1/2-in. board 8 1/2 in. wide, and the same length as the interior width of the chest (from back to front), are prepared. One edge of each is bevelled for the frames to rest on, and a strip of 1/2-in. wood e, Fig. G14, about 2 in. wide and the same length as the board, is nailed to the bevelled, side, and 5/8 in. above the top edges; then a stout strip is nailed across • the ends of the boards on the same side as the top strip. The 2 boards thus prepared have now to be nailed, across the chest exactly 14i in. apart; but before doing so, it will be well to clearly understand their use.

They form the support for the frames, the projecting ends of which hang on the thin upper edges. It will be seen that the frames do not touch in any other part, but that there is " bee space " between them and the sides and bottom. This space is important, therefore the outside size of the frames and the inside size of that part of the hive which contains them should always be exact. In nailing the 2 boards across the inside of the chest (as shown in d, Fig. G14) the division board will form a good guide to keep them the requisite 14 1/2 in. apart, and as it is difficult to nail from the outside into the ends, it will be best to nail from the inside, through the strips at the ends of the boards.

Body Of Hive 613Body Of Hive 614