BEE CULTURE. 285 



enemy against which the bees have to contend, and which has 

 made such havoc with many swarms throughout New England, 

 — may usually be found lurking or secreted, during the day, 

 about the roof or platform upon which the bees stand, ready to 

 go foi'th at night, as it is accustomed to do, to perform its work 

 of destruction by laying its eggs in or about the hive. Many 

 swarms have no doubt been lost which might have lived and 

 done well, had it not been for the depredations of those insects 

 which collect in and about the bee-house. Ordinarily it is a 

 " cage of all manner of unclean birds." It should, therefore, 

 be dispensed with entirely. There is a more excellent way. 

 The open air is far preferable. This will appear when we come 

 to speak particularly of the bee-hive. 



Hives. — Yery few bee-keepers have felt, adequately, the 

 importance of constructing a good hive. I refer, at present, 

 not so much to the plan of construction as to the materials 

 used and the workmanship which has been employed. Too 

 often any kind of box which would contain a hen and chickens, 

 (and perhaps very suitable for that purpose,) has been used for 

 a bee-hive. In behalf of the bees, I utterly protest against all 

 such " fixings." The idea that any thing in which bees will 

 remain and labor, will answer for a bee-hive, is utterly futile 

 and ruinous in its bearing upon bee culture. A bee-hive 

 requires the best stock and the best workmanship which it is 

 possible to obtain. It should be made for exposure to the 

 weather so as to constitute hive and house. A bee-house is to 

 be entirely dispensed with, for reasons already assigned. It 

 should be water-proof and air-tight. Every joint which com- 

 municates with the interior of the hive, should be protected by 

 tongue and groove, or their equivalents. No chink or crack 

 which allows the warmth of the hive or the animal heat of the 

 bees to escape, is to be tolerated for a moment, unless we intend 

 to give the bee-moth possession of the interior by allowing it to 

 deposit its eggs in these crevices, where they will hatch and 

 multiply until they outnumber and destroy the bees, as they 

 often do. The joint which usually exists about the base of the 

 hive, is to be protected as effectually and as thoroughly as any 

 upright joint. I know of but one hive which is constructed in 

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