niV£3.] 



Til E 31 A N A r. !•: M K N r ( ) F T 1 1 l' A V 1 A K V . 



[HITES. 



their enemies, and furnish them with every j and twelve inches in diameter, is applied to 

 facility for the construction of tlicir combs, I the uppermost storfy, maJo faat to tlio hivo 

 and the roarinj:; of their juvonilo brooda. It with a packinj^-ncollo and thread, and care- 

 should, likewise, admit of every part of the ' fully luted. IJeforo it is put on, a piece of 

 combs being occasionally seen, and bo capable clean paper, of the •<aino dimensions as the 

 of being removed when required; and it ' top of tho hive, Hhould bo laid over the barn, 



should be made of materials that are durable. 

 In the construction of hives, nuu-h ingenuity 

 has been, from time to time, exerted by apia- 

 rians, who have laboured to unite, in the 

 gre itest possible degree, all tliese advantages ; 



to prevent the bees from working in the inter- 

 vening »[)aces. 



Besides the above, there is the Crecian hive, 

 as used in the Greek islands, and Bometimes 

 called the Candiote hivo. It is shaped like a 



but success to that extent, so far as wo are flower-pot, and has a flat cover, adapted to the 



aware, has not yet been attained. It would same purpose as that described in WiMman'a 



be impossible, as, indeed, it is unnecessary, for hive, lluish adopted it, with some additit)nal 



us to describe all the diflerent sorts of hives apparatus. There is also Lombard's hive, 



which have been constructed for the bee; but which is, to some extent, a storeycd one, but 



those made of straw, we believe, are generally dillering from others of that kind in having 



preferred, on account of their being less liable its upper Biurey less than half the capacity of 



to over-heating by the solar rays, and likewise the body of tlie hive. Whatever may be the 



of easier purchase, from their lowness of price, merits of these hives, however, a decided pre- 



They also possess the merit of kee[)ing out ference has been given to AVildman's, botli as 



the cold better than other hives of greater pre- regards the material of which it is made, and 



tensions. Of sfraio hives, notwithstanding the the mode of its construction. It is said to 



imperfections of those of the common bell- preserve a constant equability of temperature, 



shape, there are many in use, because they and to enable the operator to practise the 



coat little, and are easily made ; and be- method of partial deprivation. Into the 



cause there is no great skill required in the respective merits of bee-boxes and straw hives 



handling of them. They ought, however, to we will not enter ; but we may briefly describe 



be globularly shaped, having the third of their the hive invented by the celebrated Huber, 



diameter cut away. This would make them and called by him the book or leaf-hive. In 



concentrate, and retain the heat better, and 

 thereby accelerate the hatching of the eggs, on 

 the success of which so much depends. 



DIFFERENT SORTS OF HIVES. 

 "Wildman's storeyed straw hive is, by many, 



the bee volume of the Katuralisi's Library, it 

 is spoken of aa possessing " more valuable 

 properties, taken as a whole, than any other 

 we are acquainted with," It is thus described 

 — " The leaf-hive consists of eight frames, each 

 eighteen inches high (English measure), and 

 preferred to modern hives made on the same ten inches wide inside, having the uprights 

 plan. It consists of two or more storeys, each and top cross-pieces one-and-a-half inch broad, 

 seven inches in height, and ten in diameter, and one inch thick ; so that the eight frames, 

 There is a hoop of about half an inch in when placed close together, constitute a hive 

 breadth in the upper row of straw ; and to eighteen inches high, twelve inches between 

 this hoop are fastened six or seven wooden end and end, and ten inches between back and 

 spars, each one-fourth of an inch thick, and front — all inside measure. The frames are held 

 one-aiid-a-quarter of an inch broad, and half together by a flat slidiug-bar, on each side 

 an inch apart from each other. To these secured by wedges and pins. To the first and 

 bars the bees attach their combs. That eighth of these frames is attached a frame 

 greater steadiness may be given to tiie combs, with glass, and covered with a shutter. The 

 to prevent their being broken or deranged , body of the hive is protected by a sloping 

 when the hive is moved, a rod is run tiirough ! roof, and the entrance is made through the 



the middle of it, in a direction across the bars, thickness of the floor-board la 



or at angles with them. A flat cover of straw, taking honey from this hive, the bee-master 

 worked of the same thickness as the hives, has the whole interior completely under his 

 6 M 1001 



