98 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



Width eleven inches and a half, (this width I choose on ac- 

 count of my glass ; I buy ten by twelve, and cut it in the 

 middle which answers for half hives,) breadth one foot two 

 inches ; these dimensions are, in the clear, seven inches and a 

 half from the top ; it is separated for the top box : under this is 

 a little shelf, four inches deep and four inches wide, for two 

 small boxes which hold about two pounds each ; these are 

 very handy and convenient, in case you want to draw a small 

 quantity for a sick friend, or for a luxury. Under this shelf, is 

 a glass five inches wide, which looks into the body of the hive. 

 The bottom is put on with butts on one side, and with small 

 wire hasps on the other, and a two-inch wood screw in the 

 centre behind. In the centre of the hive, I have a piece four 

 inches wide, half an inch thick, firmly secured to the centre 

 fpiece, running down within the reach of the bees, at the bot- 

 itom, for a direct communication with the upper box, and stay 

 •to the comb, which I find is all that is necessary. 



There are two passages to the large box, one four inches 

 long and half an inch wide ; the other, two and one half inches 

 square, next to the back shelf. These holes should be in the 

 centre, and on a line, that the communication may be cut off 

 with one piece of zinc or tin. The holes into the small boxes 

 should be two inches square. On the back part of the hive 

 there are two doors, one hung at the top, and the other at the 

 bottom, and both secured with one button in the middle. My 

 hives and boxes are all made of uniform size, so that any box 

 will suit any hive. The boxes are fixed with glass in front, 

 slipped in a groove, cut on each side, so that I can ascertain the 

 amount of honey, and the condition of my bees, at any time. 

 On each side of the hive, (at the bottom of the lower door be- 

 hind,) are pieces firmly nailed to the hive, one and a half inches 

 wide, and half an inch thick, projecting out four inches before 

 and behind, which answers for handles to carry them by, and 

 by which they are suspended. At the entrance in front is a 

 slide door made of zinc, and perforated with holes which I can 

 shut at any time, and is very convenient in many instances. 

 My hives are suspended by stout wire, (No. 7, I think,) fixed 

 to the handles before mentioned, and running through a groove 



