17 



The lower openings of the trousers must be closed either by bicycle-clips, pieces of 

 string, or by tucking them into the socks. Boots are, of course, preferable to shoes. 



Pig. 6. Bee Glove. 



Ladies' Costume. 



Ladies should wear either a divided skirt fitting tightly to the ankles, or trousers 

 under an ordinary short dress. 



CHAPTER IV. 

 Hives. 



The beginner in bee-keeping ought at once to get aquainted with the parts of a 

 hive, also the principles that are involved in its construction. On seeing one for the 

 first time, he might be tempted to assume that the structure in which the bees are 

 housed is a solid piece of carpentry, but examination will show it consists of at least a 

 dozen movable pieces, and even this number is increased in the active months of the 

 year — June, July, and August. 



Let us suppose that the reader and the writer are going to examine a hive together, 

 and that the latter is going to explain things a little as the inspection proceeds. We 

 will, therefore, start with a modern hive on the stand, and since we are not side by 

 side in reality, the writer will bring photography into play, and, as far as possible, 

 illustrate each feature that is deemed worthy of notice. 



First, we get the smoker agoing, then put on our bee suits. All being ready, we 

 stand alongside the hive, which will appear as in Fig. 7 — that is, if it is an eight-frame 

 Langstroth. Looking at it even casually, we observe that like a dwelling-house it has 

 a roof, side-walls, and a foundation. These three are definite and distinct parts ; 

 furthermore, they are essential features of every modern hive. If you take hold of the 

 roof you will find it to be removable, sometimes with a little difficulty, as the bees have 

 a habit of fastening it down tight to the walls with propolis, so as to prevent the escape 

 of heat from the interior. Just keep this little fact in mind, for as we proceed with 

 our investigations we will learn the reasons for the bpes' desire to keep warm the inside 

 of their home. Fig. 8 shows the hive-cover removed. So far we have not seen the 

 inside of the hive, because on lifting the cover we find a cloth quilt just underneath. 



B 



