Dyer's Retrocowpling Bee-boxes. 



415 



an opening at top (c), and another at bottom (d), for the bees 

 to communicate with the other box (e), which is exactly of the 



same dimensions, only without the upper opening of communi- 

 cation in the back, but with an entrance for the bees there. 

 The boxes are held together by three iron staples (g), one on 

 the top, and one on each side, and each box has a pane of 

 glass, covered with a sliding shutter (k), for the purpose of 

 observing the bees when at work ; four cross sticks may be 

 put in each box in the usual manner for the attachment of 

 the combs. The contents of each box are about 2£ gals., so 

 that the two together (a, e) are about the size of a common 

 straw bee-hive. A ring is fixed on the top of each box for 

 the convenience of carrying or hanging up, when out of use. 

 If you have ever so many boxes, make them all of one dimen- 

 sion, and then any two will fit together. The boxes should 

 stand upon a deal board not more than half an inch thick, as 

 wide as the boxes, and 2£ ft. in length. When only one box 

 is used, there is a loose board of half an inch thick (k) applied 

 to the side of communication, and made fast to it by the sta- 

 ples already mentioned (g), one end of which fits into the 

 holes in the box, and the other clips the edge of the board. 



When only one box has been used, and it is desired to add 

 a second, remove this board, and thrust in a sheet of tin (/) 

 between this and the box to prevent the bees from coming out. 

 Then place the back of the empty box close against the sheet 

 of tin, withdraw the tin, and make fast the two boxes with the 

 three staples ; then stopping the doorway of the full box, turn 

 both round, so that the full one may stand where the empty 

 one stood before.. 



The reason why the boxes ought to stand upon a thin board 

 that is movable, is because the bees will fasten the board to 

 the boxes with a strong cement, so that whenever you lift the 

 boxes you will lift up the board likewise. If it be a very large 



