BEES. 



95 



We know of no hive more generally useful tlian Mr, Grant's, 

 tlie one liere sliown, and which we venture to copy, with a 

 iew alterations, from the Gardener's Chronicle. At all 

 events, a brief description of this will show the knid of thiii^ 

 desiderated, and aiford a g'ood point of departure for those 

 who can improve upon it. 



Fig. 14. 



The straw hive is !=een in the centre, with its entrance at 

 the bottom, and a projecting- foot-board, or landing'-place, 

 under cover of the portico, so that when the bees hurry home 

 in numbers on the approach of rain (and bees are the best of 

 barometers), they may not be drenched while waiting" for 

 room to enter. The square compartments at the sides are 

 moveable boxes, abont ten inches square, and one inch thick, 

 with a shurter enclosing* a glass- window to each. These 

 would have been better placed at the back, so that the ob- 

 server miglit have been out of the way of the bees as they 

 made their entrances and exits. Perhaps, too, it would be 

 better to treat these side-boxes as mere cases for hives to be 

 put within them ; as it is a great advantage to have all hives 

 exactly of tlie same size and shape. No division need in 

 that case exist between the different compartments of the 

 case beyond the walls of the hive themselves. Each box hag 

 its own separate entrance and footboard. Bell-glasses for 



