100 THE BEB keeper's MANUAL. 



vhen fully grown, will retreat to spin tbeir webs, and to be 

 changed into moths, to enter in their turn, and lay their eggs. 

 Movable bottom boards are a great nuisance in the Apiary, 

 and the construction of my hive, which enables me entirely 

 to dispense with them, will furnish a very great protection 

 against the bee-moth. There is no place where they can 

 get in, except at the entrance for the bees, and this may be 

 contracted or enlarged, to suit the strength of the colony ; 

 and from its peculiar shape, the bees are enabled to defend 

 it, against intruders, with the greatest advantage. 



18. The bottom-board should slant towards the entrance, 

 tpiassistthe bees in carrying out the dead, and other useless 

 substances ; to aid them in defending themselves against 

 robbers ; to carry off all moisture ; and to prevent the rain 

 and snow from beating into the hive. As a farther precau- 

 tion against this last evil, the entrance ought to be under a 

 covered way, which should not, at once lead into the inte- 

 rior. 



19. The bottom-board should be so constructed that it 

 may be readily cleared of dead bees in cold weather, when 

 the bees are unable to attend to this business themselves. 



If suffered to remain, they often become mouldy, and in- 

 jure the health of the colony. If the bees drag them out, as 

 they will do, if the weather moderates, they often fall with 

 them on the snow, and are so chilled that they never rise 

 again ; for a bee generally retains its hold in flying away 

 with the dead, until both fall to the ground. 



20. No part of the interior of the hive should be below 

 the level of the place of exit. 



If this principle is violated, the bees must, at great disad- 

 vantage, drag their dead, and all the refuse of the hive, vp 

 hUl. Such hives will often have their bottom boards cover- 

 ed with small pieces of comb, bee-bread, and other impu- 



