84 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



gathered by the bees, not from swarms sold at an exor- 

 bitant price, a practice common m our day. 



The question of sizes and shapes of hives we now come 

 to consider. Three sizes have been recommended, namely : 

 first, 20 inches wide by 12 inches deep, inside measure; 

 second size, 18 inches wide by 12 inches deep; and the 

 third size, 15 inches wide by 12 inches. - - — ^ 



The first size contains about 3000 cubic or square, 

 inches ; the second size, about 2700 cubic inches ;^ffdThe 

 last, about 2000 cubic inches. We say about, for hives 

 are sometimes made more convex or round in the crown, 

 and when this takes place, the cube measure will be 

 lessened somewhat. It is not expected that bee-keepers 

 will be guided to the adoption of hives corresponding 

 exactly with the sizes given above, but it is hoped that 

 they will adopt and use hives, after their own models, 

 equal in size to the second and third mentioned above. 

 Three years ago, I ordered in Scotland 60 hives of the 

 above sizes ; but an old uncle who got the order did not 

 comply with my wishes, for there were not two of all he 

 made for me of one size. Last year we got 28 made to 

 order in Ayrshire, 24 of them are 18 inches wide, 12 of 

 which are 12 inches deep, and 12 are 14 inches deep. 

 This winter we have sent an order to the same man for 

 48 hives of the same sizes. For convenience' sake we shall 

 cleave in future to these sizes,* for by using hives exactly 

 one width, ekes for enlarging them wiU always fit the 

 hives without having to be altered. These hives will 

 often need enlarging in good honey seasons ; and where 

 supers are used, eking below will not be necessary. This 

 process of eking is mentioned now with a view to let the 

 reader see the vrisdom of fixing on certain sizes for his 

 hives — at least the width of his hives — so that enlarge- 

 ment may be easy when necessary. 



* 18 and 16 inches wide, and 12 deep. 



