On the subject of the slatted bottom board...  It was devised by C. C.
Miller in the late 1800s for a number of reasons.  The front of the SBB has
a two-inch board parallel to the landing board that limits infiltration of
cold air in the winter.  The slats discouraged the bees from drawing comb
from the bottom of frames and encourage the queen to lay further down on
the frame.  The SBB also increased available space under the brood chamber
and the true bottom board.  This provided a gathering place for large
foraging forces.  He felt that this would deminish the swarming urge. 

A recent redesign of the original SBB changed the orientation of the slats
to align with the bottom of the frames to allow mites to drop unimpeded to
and through the screened bottom board.  Some of the commercially available
SSBs assume ten frames in a brood chanber.  I run 9 so I need to make my
own.  It is time consuming.

Miller's Fifty Years Among the Bees is an interesting read.  He was an
important figure in the late 19th century beekeeping scene.

Larry Krengel
Marengo, IL

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html