SIZE OF HIVES. 329 



CHAPTER XX. 



SIZE, SHAPE, AND MATERIALS FOR HIVES OBSERVING HIVES. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the almost innumerable experiments 

 which have been made to determine the best size, shape, 

 and materials for bee-hives, the ablest practical Apiarians 

 are still at variance on these points. In most districts in 

 this country, it is pretty generally agreed that hives hold- 

 ing less than a bushel, in the main apartment, are not 

 profitable in the long run. As regards, however, the size, 

 both of the main hive and the apartments for spare honey, 

 so much depends on seasons and localities, and on whether 

 the bees swarm or not, that no rule, applicable to all cases, 

 can be given. Every bee-keeper must determine these 

 questions by reference to the honey-resources of his own 

 district. As the plan of my hives admits of their being 

 enlarged and again contracted, without destruction or 

 alteration of existing parts, the size, either of the main 

 hive or surplus storage room, may be varied at pleasure. 



Being able to remove any surplus, I prefer to make the 

 interior of my hives considerably larger than a bushel. 

 Many hives cannot hold one-quarter of the bees, comb, 

 and honey which, in a good season, may be found in my 

 large hives ; while their owners wonder that they obtain 

 so little profit from their bees. A good swarm of bees, 

 put, in a good season, into a diminutive hive, maybe com- 

 pared to a powerful team of horses harnessed to a baby 

 wagon, or a noble fall of water wasted in turning a petty 

 water-wheel. 



A hive tail in proportion to its other dimensions, has 

 some obvious advantages; for, as bees are disposed to 



