BEE-BOXES. 87 



the uppermost bees evidently bear the weight of 

 all the rest. Mr. Wildman supposes that they 

 have a power of distending themselves with air, 

 like fishes, by which they acquire buoyancy. 



Each set of boxes must have one close cover, 

 which should be an inch thick and well clamped 

 at each end to prevent warping, as a considerable 

 quantity of steam arises from the bees at certain 

 seasons. The top, being intended to take off and 

 on, should be secured by means of four screws, 

 each placed about an inch and a half from the 

 respective corners ; and it should also be fitted 

 to, and screwed down upon, all the boxes before 

 any of them are used, that whenever it may be 

 necessary to remove, or to add a box, the change 

 may be effected with the utmost promptitude. 

 Long taper screws, as nearly of the same size as 

 possible, should be selected for fastening on the 

 tops, and be dipped in grease before put in, to fa- 

 cilitate their removal. Each set of boxes must 

 also have a loose floor, an inch thick and extend- 

 ing about an inch and half beyond the back and 

 sides of the boxes. The outlet for the bees is 

 usually cut in the lower edge of the boxes, but I 

 have found it much more convenient to have it 

 formed by sinking the floor half of its thickness 

 at the centre of its front edge. The width of the 

 part sunk should be about four inches, and should 

 gradually diminish in depth till it reach the centre 



