92 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



the bottom board, placed in front of these side-boxes, where 

 they fall back from the bevel edge, keep the whole hive firmly 

 in place. Through this same side, slits or openings are cut to 

 correspond with those already cut in the central hive. Let 

 the inside of these boxes be only tolerably stnooih. Out of the 

 front and rear, cut holes four by four inches, and glaze them, 

 through which to see what is going on. There must, of course, 

 be proper covers for these holes. These and all other openings 

 nmst be kept shut, excepting when you may wish to take a 

 look, as bees prefer to work in the dark. The top cover of the 

 side-box is to project on each side, excepting where it joins the 

 central hive, and here it is to be flush. Through the centre 

 of this cover, cut a hole four by four inches, and sink down 

 into it, flush with the top, a piece of tin or zinc, perforated 

 abundantly with small and smooth holes. Over this, have a 

 slide cover, to open and shut at pleasure. This tin is to let 

 out the hot air from the side-boxes, and consequently, from the 

 central hive, and to prevent the bees, by this ventilation, from 

 clustering and idling on the outside, and to control their swarm- 

 ing. With proper ventilation and the giving of room enough 

 to work in, you may prevent your bees from swarming, and 

 keep all hands constantly, and therefore profitably at work, and 

 this is a most important feature in bee management. Do not 

 by any means neglect it. 



These perforated tins should be kept open, during the great 

 working season, say from the middle of May to the middle 

 of July, and if the bees fill them up, be sure to open them out 

 again, by carefully inserting an awl or stout needle. 



During the first season in which a swarm is put into this 

 hive, it must be confined to the lower room of the central part. 

 If the season is so favorable that they fill this room completely, 

 they may be allowed to go up into the tumblers or boxes, in 

 the upper room, or into one of the side-boxes. To command 

 the passage-holes leading to the tumblers, strips of tin must be 

 procured, say two inches wide and twelve inches long, turned 

 up a httle at one end, so as to give hold in drawing them out. 

 When shut over the holes, small tacks will hold them, and 

 they must be shut when you are getting your swarm in, or 



