Cottager and Smaliholder 7 
JI.—SKEPS OR STRAW HIVES AND BOXES. 
The use of these is strongly deprecated, as by having the 
combs fastened to the main structure they cannot be taken 
out for examination without breaking them from their 
attachment; it is impossible to replace them, therefore they 
are wasted, 
Contraction or expansion of the brood nest, and detcction 
of disease in its early stages are also impossible. Queen- 
rearing and drone-breeding cannot be controlled, and a great 
many other operations, which are easy of accomplishment with 
the modern moveable comb hive—to be described later—are 
debarred in the skep or box hive system of bee-keeping. 
lf the cottager still persists in following this system—the 
profits from which are very small compared with the moveable 
ic 
Mitt 
= 
ul 
Fic. 7. 
comb method—then it is advisable to have the skep as up 
to date as possible. : 
A Hat-topped one with a hole in the centre should be 
procured and placed on a proper round floor-board 
with a projecting piece for an alighting-board, as shown at 
Fig. 6. A stand is made by halving two nine inch pieces of 
one inch wood together, Fig. 7. A wooden case, capable of 
carrying shallow combs or a section rack, made with a solid 
floot four or five inches from the hottom, inside, having a hole 
