COVEES FOR HIVES. 99 



are very light, soft, and pliable, and can be carried about 

 in small compass. When we remove our bees to gardens 

 in the country, the felt covers go with them ; and when 

 we remove them to the moors, we find it more convenient 

 to take them for covers than it is to cut peat-sods on the 

 spot where the hives may be set down. Another induce- 

 ment to us to use these felt covers is that they are not 

 very conspicuous ; and this is a consideration to us, if not 

 to other people, for we are glad to get permission to set a 

 few hives down in any odd corner, even at a distance 

 from any human abode. 



These felt covers are rather thin for a burning sun ; 

 hence it is wise to place a little hay, or heather, or grass, 

 or rags between them and the hives. 



Sods cut off peaty land and dried, are impervious to 

 wet, and make excellent summer coverings. But straw 

 coverings are incomparably the best of all — ^best for sum- 



straw Covers, 



mer as well as winter ; and they look better than anj'- 

 thing else I have seen used as covers for hives. When a 

 farmer's corn-stacks are all well thatched and nicely clipped, 

 they not only please the eye, but convey to the mind of 

 every passer-by the idea of comfort, and also that his pro- 

 fits will not go into the wrong pocket. A row of weU- 

 thatched bee-hives in a cotter's garden is calculated to 

 please the eye, and breed p]easa,nt thoughts to the mind. 



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