STRAW HIVES. 135 



fact that, on the first establishment of these stocks, 

 four times as many bees are put into them as we are 

 in the habit of hiving together."* 



STRAW HIVES 



Have been used from a very remote period, and 

 with less change of style than any other agricultural 

 implement. They are still extensively used in many 

 parts of Europe ; but in the United States they 

 are fast passing away, being supplanted by those 

 made of wood. Plate vn, fig. 19, shows a straw hivef 

 full of comb, cut through the center from top to bot- 

 tom, at right angles with the comb, the edge only 

 being seen. They are shown to be straight and .of 

 remarkably even thickness. The cause of this reg- 

 ularity is at once apparent : commencing to construct 

 comb at the top of the hive, where a space only large 

 enough for the foundation of two combs exists,J 

 they extend them downwards, and as the space 



*T/ie Cottage and Farm Bee-keeper, by a country curate. 



fAlso called Skep ; is becoming obsolete in the United States. 



JAlthough narrow-topped hives have been described as not 

 affording top surface for store honey boxes, I have in many in- 

 stances cut a hole in the top of the conical straw hive, and after 

 adjusting a platform, placed two boxes of the usual size. The 

 bees in all cases filled them as rapidly as those in wooden hives 

 with large top surface. Hence the objection referred to is not so 

 serious as would appear at first sight. This hive has been longer 

 and perhaps more extensively used than any other, and will be 

 perpetuated at least as an emblem of industry. 



