134 HIVES. 



Although he (Quinby) says " the shape can make 

 but little difference," yet he directs a particular size 

 and shape as preferable ; he also practices as he 

 teaches, which says more than the mere utterance of 

 theory. 



The attention of English apiarists has lately been 

 drawn to the bee practice of those countries, (Rus- 

 sia, &c.) by the work of a Pole, which issued from- 

 the press not a year ago. 



Mr. Dobiogost describes the hive of his country 

 as being three and a half to five feet in height, about 

 eight inches in diameter at top, increasing down- 

 wards gradually to twenty inches or more at bottom, 

 all inside measure ! 



This is indeed a large hive. It is a fact, however, 

 that such are the dimensions of the hives commonly 

 in use in Poland ; and it is also a fact, that large as 

 they are, they yet contrive to swarm with as much 

 regularity as the hives in use among us, while the 

 parent stock remains vigorous, notwithstanding, for 

 many years together. Mr. Dobiogost assures us 

 that an apiary containing a hundred stocks of this 

 size, will throw off about one hundred and fifty 

 swarms every spring, each of such formidable power 

 that it resembles a small cloud when hovering in the 

 air. 



It seems to us almost incredible that hives of such 

 dimensions should throw any swarms at all. 



In opposition to the general belief among us, the 

 author seems to attribute this circumstance to the 



