Sec. 10.] BEES, AXI) THE PROFITABLE PRODUCTIOX OF UOXEY. IGl 



as a box is full, take it off, and put an empty one in its place. A stock of fifty- 

 swarms in the spring will produce two thousand pounds of surplus honey, 

 and increase to a hundred swarms in the autumn. Counting all lahor be- 

 stowed in the care of a stock of bees, and all -expense of hives, etc. and the 

 cost of honey is estimated at only three to six cents a pound ; varvinc with 

 locations, and favorable or unfavorable seasons. But if it always costs ten 

 cents a pound, the bee-keeper would find sale for it at a profit. 



214. Straw UivcSi — There are a few bee-keepers who still adhere to the 

 opinion that straw hives are the best that can be used. "\Ve can not think 

 so. Tlieir greatest advantage is, that they maintain a more even tempera- 

 ture than board hives, and are inexpensive. They can be manufactured by 

 the winter fireside, and packed away for future use in a small space, one 

 within another. "When wanted for use, a couple of cross-sticks must be put 

 in to support the comb, as the hive is in the shape of an inverted bowl, and 

 not as good to support comb as a straight-sided box. It is a good jjlan, 

 however, to use the supports in all hives. They should be so arranged that 

 they can be easily taken out, as it would greatly facilitate the removal of 

 comb. If straw hives are used, they should be made to hold a bushel, of 

 clean rye straw, tied very tightly together, so as to make the walls full an 

 inch and a half thick, and smooth outside and in. Xever use them after they 

 get old, and never place them where they will get wet. If kept dry, the 

 bees winter in straw hives better than board ones. 



It has been recommended to inake cases for board hives, to set over them 

 in winter as protection from the changes in the weather. If this is done, the 

 cases should be taken off as soon as possible in the spring to i^reveut moths 

 making harbors in them. 



215. Patent Hives. — Wc have never seen a patent for a ])ee-hive, nor " bco 

 palace," that we would give a dime for. They are no better than any liandy 

 man with tools can make himself. As to " bee-palaces," where bees are tc 

 live in community, the thing is preposterous. It is founded upon wrong 

 principles. 



Eee-houses, where collections of swarms in separate hives are to be kept, 

 we have tried as well as the community s^'stem, and repudiate both. 



Movable comb-hives may be made witiiout buying a patent, by making a 

 chest of the capacity to hold a bushel, besides the frames, or say 15 inches 

 squai'e inside, and make 10 frames of strips of boards an inch and a half 

 wide, nailed together flatwise at the ends so as to form sashes that will set 

 in the box and just fill it. Boro holes for the entrance of the bees, through 

 the sides of the box and frames. The liil of the chest shuts tight, and may 

 be locked. When you want to draw a frame, insert a common wood-screw 

 or two to pull it out by. You can tell as soon as you lift it a little, whether 

 it is full or not, and if not, ti^' another. 



We have tried several patent hives, and if choosing between any one of 



them and a " bee gum," would take the latter for all practical pnrjwses ; 



not that we would recommend farmers always to use hollow logs, though 



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