REQUISITES OF A COMPLETE HIVE. 95 



CHAPTER VIII. 



REQUISITES OF A COMPLETE HIVE. 



IN this chapter, I shall enumerate certain advantages 

 which seem essential to the idea of a complete hive. In- 

 stead of disparaging other hives, I prefer inviting the 

 attention of bee-keepers to the importance of these 

 requisites ; some of which, I believe, are contained in no 

 hive but my own. If, after careful scrutiny, they commend 

 themselves to the judgment of practical cultivators, they 

 will serve to test the comparative merits of the various 

 hives hi common use. 



1. A complete hive should give the Apiarian such perfect 

 control of all the combs, that they may be easily taken 

 out without cutting them, or enraging the bees. 



2. It should permit all necessary operations to be per- 

 formed without hurting or killing a single bee. 



Most hives are so constructed, that they cannot be used 

 without injuring or destroying some of the bees ; and the 

 destruction of even a few, materially increases the difficulty 

 of managing them. 



3. It should aifford suitable protection against extremes 

 of heat and cold, sudden changes of temperature, and 

 the injurious effects of dampness. 



The interior of a hive should be dry in Winter, and 

 free in Summer from a pent and almost suffocating heat. 



4. It should permit every desirable operation to be 

 performed, without exciting the anger of the bees. 



5. Not one unnecessary motion should be required of 

 a single bee. 



