24 



MAKING A START WITH BEES 



factory. The piece covers are made of such light material that 

 they do not, as a rule, last as long as is desirable. 



More and more are the metal top covers coming into general 

 favor. These covers are fiat topped and made of a sheet of 

 galvanized steel or iron on a wood frame that telescopes over the 

 top of the hive. A thin inner cover is used under them. This 

 makes an air space of nearly one-fourth inch between the inner 

 cover and the corrugated paper or board, with which the cover is 

 lined. The telescope feature makes the cover much less likely 

 to be blown off during high winds. 



Metal top cover with flaxboard. 



The chief objection to these covers is the fact that they get 

 very hot when the hive is in direct sunlight in warm weather. 

 ' If sufficient provision for ventilation is made, the effect will not 

 be so noticeable. If painted with a light-colored paint, less heat 

 will be absorbed than if painted some dark color. Dark-colored 

 paints are not suitable for bee hives. Fig. 14 shows a metal top 

 cover with flaxboard used above the inner cover. 



Flaxboard is a new absorbent and insulating material which 

 has recently appeared in the market. It is composed of flax 

 fiber pressed into sheets of suitable thickness. Although not yet 

 extensively tested, it seems to give excellent satisfaction where 



