10 



AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



Januar>' 



Many of the commercial hives are so 

 designed or so flimsily made that they 

 readily break, or by yielding when 

 handled break the glass. Another 

 fault of most observation hives, large 

 and small is the impossibility of feed- 

 ing the bees without the risk of daub- 

 ing them or the hive with the food. 

 The passage of air through the hive 

 should be absolutely under the con- 

 trol of the bees. Much or little venti- 

 lation should be at their command. 

 Light or darkness have no effect pro- 

 vided there is no sudden change from 

 one to the other. They work equally 



Second, have at least two, and pre 

 ferably three panes of glass on eacl, 

 side, separated by a quarter inch 

 space, made virtually air-tight, but 

 not puttied or cemented in. 



Third, have all ventilation at the 

 lower edge of one side. 



Fourth, have a "tunnel" connecting 

 the hive with the open air, which may 

 or may not be a part of the hive. It 

 need be but two or three inches long, 

 but should be both wider and higher 

 than the hive entrance and should 

 have its top covered with wire cloth. 



MILLER S OBSERVATION HIVE. 



well in natural or artificial light if 

 the light does not give heat, hence 

 direct sunlight or direct rays from a 

 lamp, gas jet or electric light increase 

 the temperature within the hive. Re- 

 flected or diffused light does not so act 

 to any perceptible degree, therefore, 

 if it is desirable to study the bees by 

 night arrange the lights thus and pre- 

 ferably start the light before daylight 

 wanes, then there will be no possible 

 interruption of the bees' labors. 



ESSENTIALS FOR. GOOD OBSERVATION 

 HIVES. 



First, have the hives strong enough 

 so handling will not crack the glass. 



Such a "tunnel" arrangement is much 

 better than having the hive close to 

 the sash. 



Fifth, have the frame in the single 

 comb hive fixed so it cannot swing 

 or slide if the hive is moved. 



Sixth, have a slip of queen-exclud- 

 ing zinc over the entrance. It will 

 prevent the absconding of the little 

 colony, though that is not probable 

 if they are properly housed and es- 

 tablished. 



Seventh, if the hive is for exhibition 

 purposes, hence to which the bees 

 must be confined for some time, have 

 a space of two or three inches below 



