

NATURAL. 131 



stores. Thus, the process of building and filling is 

 continued through each succeeding season of flowers. 



The bees preferring always to cluster amidst and 

 embracing the lower portions of their combs, they are 

 in a position to guard their accumulated stores with- 

 out any bees clustering on the upper portion of them. 



Thus an amount of honey is frequently accumu- 

 lated that is utterly impossible to be made in a habi- 

 tation of large diameter, whether it is deep from top 

 to bottom or low and shallow. 



It is true, that a habitation like the hollow tree, 

 laid on its side, would in some measure compensate 

 for height ; but the increased bottom surface, always 

 difficult to clean, will, wherever moths abound, even- 

 tually preclude their use. Low, shallow hives, which 

 compel the cluster of bees to be flattened, thwart 

 their instinct, and cause a waste of animal heat which 

 often retards their progress and increases the mor- 

 tality. 



Another advantage possessed by the tree is the 

 lining, composed of dry, decayed wood, which is a 

 non-conductor; this is surrounded by a wall of green 

 wood, covered with bark, under which the life-giving 

 sap flows ; such a combination insures an evenness of 

 temperature not attainable by art. " No heat can 

 ever injure the texture of the comb, neither are the 

 bees liable to be caught in a position to starve while 

 plenty of food remains in the hive, as is frequently 

 the case in the States where cold winters prevail, 

 and the hives are made low and flat. 



