SIEAT7 HIVES. 



CHAPTBE II. 



Straw Hives. 



SKEPS — SIZE OF — SUPERS FOE — STJPEEING HIVES— NEIGHBOUe'S 

 COTTAGE HIVE — PLOOE BOARDS FOE PROTECTION OP. 



Hives are broadly diyisible into two kinds, those in whioli the combs are 

 fised and those in which the combs can be removed singly and replaced 

 at the will of the operator. The latter, called movable comb hives or 

 frame hives, give ample scope for the best kind of "management, and are 

 nndonbtedly in advance of those older forms with combs fixed. The 

 common akep or straw hive has still its admirers and it cannot be fairly 



Fis. 1. 



Flat-topped Steaw Hives, 



Fia. 2. 



denied that it is both light, cheap, and handy for the bee keeper, 

 and comfortable for the bees, while it demands but little skiU for 

 its manufacture, and is equal as a non-oonductor of heat to the 

 best wooden hives. The skep, as commonly seen in the cottager's 

 garden, is dome shaped, but it is desirable that the top should be flat or 

 flattish. It is not generally difficult to get our skeps made to order when 

 they should not cost more than 2s. each and ought to be large enough to 

 hold nearly a bushel of bees : i.e., contain from 1800 to 2000 cubic inches. 



