CHAPTER VI. 



HIVES OF STRAW, SUITABLE TO AMATEUR BEE MANAGEMENT. 



I had originally introduced the subject of this chapter among the ob- 

 servations on cotfrgers' hives, with which the reader has already been 

 made acquainted ; but it has since occurred to me that it would be 

 better treated of in a separate chapter, as an introduction to my sug- 

 gestions to the amateur. The fact is, however suited Mr. Payne's 

 hive may be to the pockets and capacities of the humbler class of bee 

 keepers, owing to its very slight deviation from the hive in common 

 use, it undoubtedly yields the palm of excellence by a great deal to 

 the Huish or Grecian hive, as modified by Mr. G-olding, (which I con- 

 sider the ne plus ultra of bee domicile,) and even to several other kinds 

 of hives less perfect than Mr. G-olding's. Should any person, there- 

 fore, consider this hive, (and it need not be constructed at any very 

 great expense,) better adapted than the former to improved bee cul- 

 ture among the poor, and feel desirous of introducing it into common 

 use, let him by all means recommend it in preference. 



Before I come to treat of Mr. G-olding's hive, I must say a few 

 words in favor of a hive of Mr. Taylor, which he recommends 

 in the fourth edition of his work, and of which he has given a sketch. 

 Its peculiar advantage is, that, simultaneously 

 with the removal of the top, every comb can be 

 lifted out of the hive, as well as any partial depriva- 

 tion of honey made. The hive is open at both 

 ends alike, and it has a moveable crown board of 

 doubled wood, each piece being not less than 

 three fourths of an inch in thickness. There is a 

 four-inch hole in it, (or as Mr. Taylor suggests,) if 

 preferred, two or three smaller ones. It will be 

 observed, on referring to the sketch, that the lesser and under part of 

 the crown board is cut away, so as to fall within the diameter of the 



