84 SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 



HIVE-MAKING. 



Hive-making is poor economy in bee-keeping, as they can be bought (rom 

 agents in nearly every section in the South, at a reasonable price. To make 

 a home-made hive that would be equal to a factory-made one, and as con- 

 venient for the bees and the apiarist, is no small job, and the work is very- 

 tedious, for it has to be accurate or it will never give satisfaction, and the 

 job would not be too well done by our best workman; and if the fastest cheap- 

 workman were to take the job of making them they would cost more than 

 factory-made ones. And, besides, suitable material to make them of is not 

 always available. If they are not made of very soft material the nails will 

 split them up so much that it will not stand handling nor give satisfaction. 

 The soft material required would be hard to get in many sections in the 

 South. So it is not good economy for bee-keepers to make their own hives,, 

 and we will not enter on the construction of home-made hives. But there are 

 two parts of a modern hive that every bee-keeper should know how to make; 

 and they are the cover and bottom. Very often these parts of a hive wilt 

 give way, and considerable damage be done before we can get more from the 

 bee-supply dealers. The construction of the bottom is simple, and almost any 



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one can make them ; so we will go into the construction of the covers. A$ 

 they are exposed to all kinds of weather they are likely to give way and 

 let the water into the hives on the bees, comb, and frames, at any time, 

 which would be very detrimental to the bees; and so nothing but a good 

 cover should be allowed on hives at any season of the year. 



I have made many covers; but the two I shall describe give me better 

 satisfaction than any I have ever made, and are simple and easy to construct. 

 But caution should be used in selecting the material; and it would be best 

 if it were seasoned in the open air; and mostly heart, and soft; and it should 

 also not be warped, and should be free from knots and other defects. Lum- 

 ber from goods-boxes makes very good covers, as it is soft and not easy to 



