00 



CEi:s. 



receiving' lionoy may be placed on tlie hive, and on the side- 

 boxes. A moveable roof, light and vv^arm, covers the whole, 

 and is put on and off without difficulty. A tube of com- 

 munication, which can be opened or closed at pleasure from 

 the outside (and which does not prevent the removal of a 

 side-box), extends from the straw hive in the centre to each 

 of the boxes, so that the bees can pass freely, when the 

 owner chooses to let them. The view of the hive given in 

 the cut is nearly the same as that of Mr. Grant's, the prin- 

 cij)al alteration being that each of the side entrances are 

 furnished with perches to shelter the bees while waiting for 

 admittance. If it could be done, a single leg in the centre 

 of the hive is preferable to the four legs at the angles, as rats 

 and mice might then struggle in vain to get at the honey 



WAX, HONEY, &C. 



As the bees yield up the produce of their labours with 

 difficulty, and require the reason of man to be set against 

 their instinct, so are they anxious to regain that property 

 of which they have been deprived. Their sense of smell is 

 so keen that they can discover their stolen property at an 

 almost incredible distance, and have been known completely 

 to empty some combs which had been inadvertently left ex- 

 posed. When the combs have been placed in the room 

 where they are to be strained, it is strongly recommended to 

 burn rotten hay, or something of that description, at tho 

 windows, in order to drive away the bees who will in all 

 probability be hovering about. 



A pair of forceps, such as watchmakers use, will be found 

 very useful in removing* the stray g'rubs or other matters 

 which are very likely to get mixed with the combs. When 

 these substances are entirely removed, the combs should be 

 broken into small pieces and placed on a strainer, through 

 which the honey passes into a vessel beneath, and is nearly 

 equal to that of the bell glasses. When no more honey will 

 run of its own accord, the comb should be squeezed in a 

 clean cloth, when a large quantity of second-rate honey will 

 be procured. The honey must be carefully kept from the 

 air, and if clarified will be better. This operation is per- 



