90 BEE-BOXES. 



combs. The principle of this hive appears to be 

 very good, but I doubt whether it will come into 

 general use ; for as bees are not very tractable 

 creatures, they are not likely to construct their 

 combs in direct lines, so as to attach one singly to 

 each of Mr. Huish's bars : the tops of the boxes 

 which I use are constructed like Huish's, yet I 

 never saw an instance in which the combs did not 

 either cross those bars at right angles, or connect 

 themselves in some way or other with two or 

 three bars, so as to render it impracticable to re- 

 move a comb or two from the outsides, in the 

 manner that Huish proposes. The sole advan- 

 tage of Huish's hive consists in this undisturb- 

 ing mode of removal ; and could it be effected, 

 honey might be extracted without withdrawing 

 any of the stored pollen or propolis, or molesting 

 the brood in the centre combs ; an inconvenience 

 which, it must be admitted, may be charged upon 

 the storifying system, though I hope I have, in my 

 chapter or Deprivation, pointed out a method that 

 will, in a very great degree, if not entirely, re- 

 medy this inconvenience. Huish, in his instruc- 

 tions for using his hives, admits the difficulty 

 which I have here stated, as to the attachment of 

 a single comb to more than one bar, and gives 

 particular directions how to proceed on such oc* 

 casions ; but even under tolerably favourable cir- 

 cumstances, the recommended operation would 



