HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



CHAPTEE XIX. 



COVKRS EOE HIVES, 



In summer as well as winter Hves require protection. If 

 not shaded from the summer sun, the comhs are likely to 

 become softened at their fastenings, and drop down in a 

 confused mass. The rays of the sun should he warded off 

 by coverings of some kind. And it is well when not a 

 drop of rain can touch hives, either in summer or winter. 

 Of course, rains in summer that touch hives do less harm 

 than in winter, inasmuch as the wetted parts are sooner 

 dried in hot weather. It may be stated as an axiom that 

 perfect protection of hives, from both sun and rain, should 

 be aimed at in covering them. 



MUk-pans are in common use in many parts. With 

 small hives they answer in summer, but they are a mis- 

 erable protection in winter. For cheapness and con- 

 venience, anything at hand that will shed the rain off 

 hives in summer is made use of. Three or four cabbage- 

 blades placed on a hive, and held there by a stone, are 

 often used till something better turn up. We now use 

 felt (sold at one penny per foot) largely as a covering for 

 hives. It is impervious to water, and very durable ; 

 indeed I cannot yet say how many years it will last. 

 The covers of felt that I got four years ago are as good as 

 ever they were, and apparently will last for an indefinite 

 length of time. These felt covers suit us well, for they 



