418 



REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



than the destruction of these industrious and inoffensive little 

 creatures, in order for man to obtain the fruits of their industry 

 and toil. 



Reflecting on these circumstances, M. HARASTI, during his cultivation of 

 bees, conceived that it would be possible to form a hive which should have all 

 the advantages of the best kind, while the simplicity and cheapness of its con- 

 struction, might bring it into use among husbandmen. 



A good bee-hive ought to possess the following properties: First, it should 

 be capable of enlargement or contraction, according to the number of the 

 swarm. Secondly, it should admit of being opened without disturbing the 

 bees, either for the purpose of cleaning it; of freeing it from insects; of increas- 

 ing or dividing the swarm; or for the admission of a stock of provisions for the 

 winter. Thirdly, it should be so constructed, that the produce may be remov- 

 ed without injury to the bees. Fourthly, it should be internally clean, smooth, 

 and free from flaws. All these properties unite in the hive here described. 



It is formed of four open square boxes, A, B, C, D, as represented by the 

 following cut: 



These boxes are fastened to 

 each other by several wooden but- 

 tons, b, b, &c. which turn upon a 

 rod or screw. The whole is cover- 

 ed with a moveable roof, which 

 projects over the boxes slanting 

 from the centre , that the rain- 

 water may run off. It is necessa- 

 ry to place a stone on the top of the 

 roof, to keep it on firm. 



Instead of buttons, the boxes 

 may be combined by a rabbet fast- 

 ened with wooden pegs; but in 

 either case, the conjoined parts 

 should be closed with cement. If 

 the swarm is not very numerous, 

 three, or even two, boxes will be 

 sufficient. Each of them should 

 be about three inches, or three 

 inches and a half in height, and about six inches in the clear within. They 

 should be made of wood, at least three quarters of an inch thick, that the bees, 

 wax, &c. maybe less affected by changes in the temperature of the atmosphere. 

 Within the boxes, at the upper part, there should be fixed two bars, in the 

 form of a cross, with the extremities extending to the angles of the box, as is 

 represented in the following figure. 



To these bars the bees attach their combs. At the 

 lower part of each box, in front, there must be an 

 aperture or door, as at c, c, c, d, as high as is neces- 

 sary for the bees to pass conveniently, and about an 

 inch and a half wide; of these apertures, only the 

 lowest (marked d,) is to be left open for the passage 

 of the bees; the others are to be closed by means of a 

 piece of wood, properly fitted to them. 



It must be evident that this bee-hive has all the 

 advantages before mentioned. To lessen or enlarge 

 it, only requires a diminution or increase of a number of the boxes; and a 

 communication with the internal part can easily be effected by the removal of 

 the cover. 



The cheapness and facility of the construction of this hive is evident, as 

 nothing is requisite but to join four boards with nails, or in any other manner, 

 so simple that it may be done by a day-labourer. 



"When the hives are made, they should be placed in a good situation: the 

 best is south-west; but they must not be too much exposed to the heat of noon, 

 which may be mitigated, by placing the branches of trees to shade the hives, 



