OR, MANUAL OF THB APIARY. 221 



beveling — simply one board rests upon another. At first I 

 was much prejudiced ag-ainst this simple arrangement. After 

 giving it a thorough trial I wish nothing else. The only criti- 

 cism I have for this hive after several years' experience is, 

 that if the board cover is used in spring, the protection is in- 

 sufficient. We break the propolis or glue in examining the 

 bees, and then as the bees can not glue all close at this early 

 season, the brood is apt to chill, and the bees to suffer, espe- 

 cially if the sides of the hives have shrunken, or the cover 

 warped. By use of a quilt or warm woolen cloth just the size 

 of the hive placed above, and a crate filled with dry sawdust 

 above this, all is .made snug and comfortable, and even this 

 objection disappears. To adopt this style of hive is not ex- 

 pensive. We can use the same frames as before, andean make 

 all new hives of this simple, plain pattern, and in time we will 

 have only these hives. 



To shade the hive nothing is so good as a shade-board 

 made considerably wider than the hive, and nailed to two 

 cleats five inches wide. Thus, when resting on the hive this 

 shade-board will be five inches ^bove the top of the hive. This 

 has never blown off of my hives. Should it do so a brick 

 could easily be fastened to the under side, out of sight, and 

 thus make it entirely safe against winds. 



Thus I have described the Heddon-Langstroth hive 

 minutely, as with W. Z. Hutchinson, R. L,. Taylor, and many 

 others of our most able and intelligent apiarists, I find it, upon 

 trial, as excellent as it is simple. Surely, when we can har- 

 ness excellence and simplicity together we have a most desir- 

 able team. The simple union of parts by mere plain contact 

 of the edges, or the cover simply lying on the hive, while it is 

 just as acceptable to the bees, makes the hive far more simple 

 of construction, and easy of manipulation. The honey-board 

 and bee-spaces keep all so neat, that as one bee-keeper well 

 says, their extra expense is very soon saved in the saving of 

 time which their use insures. Any who may think of trying 

 this hive better do as I did, try two or three at first, and see if 

 in their judgment the " game is woi?th the candle." 



All hives should be well painted with white paint. This 

 color makes the heat less trying to the combs and bees. While 



