HIVES. 73 



200 hiv-es, and unless he employs his spare time in 

 manufacturing his hives and appliances, he finds six 

 months of the year at least with nothing to do. If I 

 except about ten weeks in the midst of summer, when 

 swarming and honey gathering is in full progress, I am 

 at a loss to know how any man, with a dozen frame 

 hives, could usefully bestow on them, an average of an 

 hour's labour a week ; he may spend, in season, any 

 amount of time in studying and watching his little 

 favourites, but this would be of more advantage to him- 

 self than the Bees. In fine summer weather I rarely 

 commence my daily duties without spending half an 

 hour with my Bees, and this short interval is certainly 

 the most enjoyable of the day. An advocate for straw 

 skeps, in pitting the weight of his honey crop against 

 that from a frame hive, too often forgets to take into 

 consideration, quality — the bruised and broken combs, 

 the discoloured run-honey, frequently adulterated with 

 all the impurities of the hive, that would pass through 

 the strainer, can no more be fairly compared to the 

 spotless purity of the well-filled combs of the frame 

 supers, than can the strawberries of the woods be com- 

 pared to the large luscious fruit of the gardens. If the 

 Bee-keeper be content to let the Bees manage them- 

 selves, without ever intending to afford them any assist- 

 ance, then it is quite immaterial whether straw skeps or 

 frame hives be used ; but if it be desired to obtain all 

 advantages possible from the Bees, then adopt the best 

 aids for this purpose — -frame hives. 



I commence with a description of 



Straw Skeps — The general form of which is known 

 io all. These, although fast being superseded, are yet 

 used, and will be for many years to come the common 

 hives of the cottager. I will endeavour to point out the 



