HIVE FOR REARING QUEEN BEES. 95 



In marking out the timber, care should be taken 

 as far as possible to avoid knots coming near the 

 edges of the pieces or in the roof-board, and the 

 heart side of the timber should always be on the 

 outside of the hive. If this is not done, the hive 

 when exposed to the weather is fairly certain to 

 open at the joints. Over the roof-top a piece of 

 calico, cut to size, should be stretched, folded 

 round the edges, and secured by tacks underneath. 

 A coat of thick oil paint upon the calico will make 

 the roof watertight, and the hive itself should also 

 receive a coat of paint. A light colour is best, as 

 dark shades absorb the heat of the sun, making 

 the hive intolerably hot for the bees, and perhaps 

 melting their combs down into a confused mass. 



