STKAW HIVES. 



(Fig. 5), with glasses and top complete, may be bought for 35s. at Regent- 

 street. Mr. Neighbour is making these hives larger now than formerly. 

 This is a great improvement. It is highly 

 probable that the introduction of so much 

 foreign blood in the shape of imported 

 queens has improved our race of bees, 

 and that they now require for the full 

 development of their powers greater space 

 than was once sufficient. 



It is very desirable that each hive 

 should have its own stand : — houses con- 

 taining the hives, for reasons it would be 

 premature here to explain, are very un- 

 desirable. The stands give much greater 

 facility for management if they are not 

 fixed in the ground, as some recommend, 

 but are of the nature of stools. If these 

 stools are too high they are in danger of 

 being blown over, if too low the hives 

 get damp ; about twelve or fourteen 



inches wiU be found suitable. The bottom board should be round and 

 of the size of the hive, or, the parts lying beyond the hive's sides catching 

 snow or rain, quickly wet the hive 

 walls and make the bees wretched. In 

 the neighbourhood of chair makers 

 €lm bottom boards can be had very 

 cheap, but failing these, they may be 

 made in deal of the form seen in 

 Kg. 6 ; the projecting part, B, serving 

 as an alighting board from which the 

 bees start and upon which they settle 

 as they return home laden. Most bee 

 keepers decrease their outlay and increase their enjoyment of their hobby 

 by what may be called apioultural carpentering, and so a good method 



Fig. 5. Neighbour's Cottagb 

 Hive. 



Fig 6. Hive Stand. 



B 7i C 



Fio. 7. Plan foe Cutting Flook Boakds. 



•of cutting out bottom boards is shown at Pig. 7, which represents the 



