MOVABLE-FRAME HIVES. 



173 



but its cost is so small, and its use so great, that it is worth 

 while to replace it as often as necessary. 



353. The straw-mat is one of the most useful and neces- 

 sary implements of the bee-hive. It is far superior to the 

 wooden-mat described by one or two writers. It is flexible 

 and porous, warm in Winter, cool in Summer. It may be 

 made of rye straw, or of what is called slough-grass, a tough 

 and coarse grass growing in marshy places, and abounding on 

 the bottoms of the Mississippi Valley. The mat shown in 

 fig. 73 is only about one inch thick. 



Fig. 82. 



FEAME TO MAKE STEAW MATS. 



But it is quite sufficient. We are sure that there is nothing 

 that will equal this implement, except a piece of heavy felt 

 of proper size. 



In flg. 82 we present to our readers an engraving of a 

 frame, for making these mats. They are very simple in 

 construction. It is well, in making them, to use strong 

 twine, soaked in linseed-oil; for the moisture, which escapes 

 from the bees in Winter, would soon rot the string. 



