172 HIVES. 



are two small rods which, on the top being brought 

 close down on the body b, serve., by being fastened 

 together, to keep the former steadily in its place. 

 This hive possesses no superiority over the common 

 storied ones, of which it is a modification ; and the 

 plan of retaining the same combs in the body of the 

 hive for a series tf years, must prove decidedly in- 

 jurious t<; ;*x prosperity of the colony. 



Of the straw hives here described, we give a de- 

 cided preference to that of Wildman, both in respect 

 to material and construction, maintaining, as it does, 

 a constant equability of temperature, and enabling 

 the operator to practise the mode of partial depriva- 

 tion, which will be after ward*' described. We think, 

 however, the dimensions ma) be enlarged with ad- 

 vantage, and would recommend the diameter to be 

 12 inches instead of 10, and the height of each story 

 to be 7^ inches instead of 7. This will bring the 

 hive, when consisting of two stories, to the capacity 

 of a solid foot. It will be of advantage, also, to have 

 the upper and lower bands of each story worked 

 double, the one exterior to the other, as represented 

 in Plate X., fig. 3. This will contribute greatly * 

 the steadiness of the hive, and afford the neans of 

 connecting the stories firmly together by pack-thread 

 or wooden pins. 



Bee-Boxes. The respective merits of straw-hives 

 and bee-boxes have often been made the subject of 

 discussion. Certainly those of straw have a decided 

 superiority over those of wood, in respect to their 

 capability of maintaining an equable temperature, 



