28 EXPERIENCE. 



price, thus destroying the great incentive to improve- 

 ment. 



Owing to the inaccessible nature of these rudely 

 constructed hives, they were generally permitted to 

 stand without any attention, from the time the swarm 

 was hived, until they were either killed or robbed. 



This left the bees to battle against the moths and 

 other enemies as best they could. 



The result has been that bees have become scarce 

 wherever left thus severely alone. 



The chamber hive (or Weeks' hive as it was 

 called) was first brought to my notice in the spring 

 of 1844, and after using them extensively in various 

 forms for a period of four years, I found that they 

 answered but the one additional purpose over the 

 common square box, viz : to furnish surplus honey 

 in boxes in a more desirable form. 



Many hives with various patented devices attached 

 were brought to my notice during this period. Some 

 of the most promising I tried thoroughly, but found 

 none of them to possess any considerable advantages 

 over the common chamber hive. 



The success which attended my efforts at bee-keep- 

 ing previous to 1848, although good, was not such 

 as I believed could be attained. 



The lack of system and uniformity of hives, as 

 well as the impeufect arrangement of the latter, 

 caused such an amount of labor as to render bee- 

 keeping both a small and uncertain business. 



Flat-bottomed hives allow the filth to accumulate, 



