96 THE BEE keeper's MANUAL. 



2. It ought to afTord suitable protection against extremes 

 of heat and cold, sudden changes of temperature, and the 

 injurious effects of dampness. 



In winter, the interior of the hive should be dry, and not 

 a particle of frost should ever find admission ; and in sum- 

 mer, the bees should not be forced to work to disadvantage 

 in a pent and almost suffocating heat. (See these points 

 discussed in the Chapter on- Protection.) 



3. It should permit all necessary operations to be per- 

 formed without hurling or killing a single bee. 



Most hives are so constructed that it is impossible to man- 

 age them, without at times injuring or destroying some of the 

 bees. The mere destruction of a few bees, would not, ex- 

 cept on the score of humanity, be of much consequence, if 

 it did not very rpaterially increase the difficulty of managing 

 them. Bees remember injuries done to any of their num- 

 ber, for some time, and generally find an opportunity to 

 avenge them.- 



4. It should allow every thing to be done that is necessary 

 in the most extensive management of bees, without incur- 

 ring any serious risk of exciting their anger. (See Chapter 

 on the Anger of Bees.) 



5. Not a single unnecessary step or motion ought to be 

 required of a single bee. 



The honey harvest, in most locations, is of short contin- 

 uance ; and all the arrangements of the hive should facili- 

 tate, to the utmost, the work of the busy gatherers. Tall 

 hives, therefore, and all such as compel them to travel with 

 their heavy burdens through densely crowded combs, are 

 very objectionable. The bees in my hive, instead of forc- 

 ing their way through thick clusters, can easily pass into 

 the surplus honey boxes, not only from any comb in the 

 hive, but without traveling wver the combs at all. 



