286 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



this thorough manner, and I know of but one hive which affords 

 any real protection against the encroachments of the bee-moth. 

 This is 



■S^^^^^^^^^'V-^Y* 



niOTECTIVE BEE-HIVE. 



This will be found, in its practical results, to be a very dif- 

 ferent thing from the construction of a moth-cage, trap, drawer^ 

 or " hot-house," as if the great object of the bee keeper was to 

 raise such creatures for market, or was extremely anxious to 

 furnish them a lurking place and a snug warm nest, or was 

 desirous to induce them to stay about his apiary ; and a very 

 different thing from placing a hive over a wire screen, (with a 

 moth drawer beneath!) which wire net-work furnishes all the 

 opportunity for the deposit of eggs, which the bee-moth could 

 desire. All such " fixings," which furnish a place for the 

 deposit and hatching of eggs, must gratify the bee-moth exceed- 

 ingly. It could ask or desire nothing better, and if it had the 

 power, I think it would be disposed to remunerate the bee 

 keeper amply for such an arrangement. I shall not, in this 

 place, go into the merit or demerit of different plans of con- 

 struction, but would say, that whatever particular plan is 



