96 



HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



dom, such, as are seen and felt by large congregations in 

 leaving a cliurch. If tbe board and tbe door of a hive be 

 wide enough, the bees go oat and off without hesitation. 

 They never loiter, and it is a pity the ignorance of their 

 owners should ever compel them to do so. 



The beautiful gush or stream of bees in the act of 

 swarming is owing to the fact that their bodies are so full 

 of honey that they cannot rise on wing without first fill- 

 ing their bodies with air ; and in doing this they run 

 nearly to the point of the flight-board. 



Two Boards marJiedJor sawing out of Deal or Plarik. 



THE DOOE OF THE HIVE. 



Some bee-keepers have channels cut in the boards for 

 doors. Where this is done, the flight-boards are uneven 

 and unlevel ; but the hives are unbroken or uncut in any 

 way. As we like the flight-boards pretty even, and some 

 playroom on them, we prefer the doors cut in the hives. 

 About 4 inches in length of the bottom roll or round of 

 a straw hive cut clean out makes a fine spacious doorway. 

 The door wUl be thus 4 inches long and 1 inch high, 

 which is little enough for strong hives in the busy 

 season. 



Our system of feeding, which will be mentioned here- 

 after, requires the flight-boards to be level, and the doors 



