BEES. 115 



BEE HIVES. 



Of all the substances of which hives are made, and 

 they are many, straw has been most generally prefer- 

 red. They have been preferred for three reasons. First, 

 hives made of straw are cheaper than those made of 

 wood, glass, or any other material. Second, they 

 are warmer in cold weather ; and Third, they are 

 cooler in warm weather, than any other hives. 



An ingenious French gentleman recommends the 

 floor of the hive to be made of plaster of Paris, and 

 the hive a basket work, composed of straw bound 

 with bands made of the internal bark of the lime- 

 tree. Over this, he says, should be smeared a full 

 coating made of one part ashes and two parts cow- 

 duag. Cleanliness appears to be essential to these 

 industrious insects, and nothing could better answer 

 this purpose than the smooth white plaster of Paris. 

 The coating of the hive is said to prevent the entrance 

 of noxious insects, while the smell of the straw is 

 peculiaily agreeable to the bees. The cover of this 

 hive is a broad board, nearly eighteen inches in dia- 

 meter. The entrance has a door, which may be 

 closed in winter, to keep out all intruders. At the 

 bottom of the door are small holes, in the form of a 

 half moon, just large enough to permit two bees to 

 enter abreast. Above these are other holes, only 

 large enough for one bee to enter. The straw wall 

 of the hive should be an inch, and the cement half aa 



