^'^ UKK3. 



THE HIVE. 



Tliis slioiild be formed of some material that v;ill neither 

 readily receive and conduct the summer's heat to the hive, 

 nor radiate its own heat away from it in winter. Straw and 

 wood are both good non-conductors of heat, and are both 

 much used. The common straw hive answers every purpose 

 when bee-management in its simplest shape is desired ; and 

 if a more elaborate system is to be pursued, the same straw 

 hive is easily made the chief portion of a larger structure, 

 having' conveniences for facilitating artificial swarming-, or 

 preventing swarming altogether, so far as it can be pre- 

 vented, or for removing the honey. The straw hives have 

 one advantage over those of wood; they admit freer passage 

 of air by insensible degrees into the hive, and of moisture 

 out of it. It will save the bees time and trouble, which to you 

 .fiieans honey, if you take care the inner surface of the straw 

 hive is carel'ully freed from all roughnesses. India matting- 

 has been used with success for lining straw hives. But use 

 no paint, nor washes, nor anything of the kind. 



The ordinary bell-shaped straw hive is of course not to be 

 thought of, but it may be made the foundation of an excellent 

 single hive by an hour's work. About one quarter should 

 be cut from the top, and upon this a flat thick piece of wood 

 be fastened, projecting about half an inch all round. In the 

 centre of this wooden top, bore a hole with a large centre-bit, 

 and you have the body of the hive. The lower rim of the 

 hive should be protected by a wooden hoop, in which the 

 entrance is not to be cut, but out of the substance of the foot- 

 board, which should be as thick as can conveniently be 

 obtained, and alwaj^s of wood. A bell-glass will go over the 

 hole in the top of the hive, and a smaller hive of straw, or a 

 wooden cover will protect this and keep it dark, for the bees 

 cannot bear light to intrude upon their labours. The hole 

 should be kept closed with a bung until the bees begin to hang 

 about the entrance of the hive, when the bung should be 

 withdrawn, and the bell-glass with its cover be placed upon 

 the hive. The bees finding more space for their labours will 

 at once turn their attention to the interior of their hive, and 

 the ])ell will speedily be filled with the most beautifully pure 



