

THE BEE-GUM. 133 



of cases, remains unsettled in the minds of most bee- 

 keepers. The only plan will be for each one to de- 

 termine for himself, and practice accordingly. 



" A hive tall in proportion to its other dimensions, 

 has some obvious advantages ; for as bees are dis- 

 posed to carry their stores as far as possible from the 

 entrance, they will fill its upper part with honey, 

 using the lower part mainly for brood, thus escaping 

 the danger of being caught in cold weather, among 

 empty ranges of comb, while they still have honey 

 unconsumed. If the top of this hive, like that of 

 an old fashioned churn, is made (on the Polish plan) 

 considerably smaller than the bottom, it will be bet- 

 ter adapted to a cold climate, besides being more 

 secure against high winds. Such a hive is deficient 

 in top surface for the storing of honey in boxes, and 

 it would be impossible to use frames in it to any 

 advantage ; but, to those who prefer to keep bees on 

 the old plan, one of this shape, made to hold not less 

 than a bushel and a half, is decidedly the best." 



Mr. Quinby recommends to make hives, " say, 

 twelve inches square inside, by fourteen deep. I 

 prefer this shape to any other, yet it is not all-im- 

 portant. I have had some ten inches square by 

 twenty in length ; they were awkward looking, but 

 that was all ; I could discover no difference in their 

 prosperity. .Also, I have had them twelve inches deep 

 by thirteen square, with the same result. Hence, 

 if we avoid extremes, and give the required room, 

 the shape can make but little difference." 



