THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEErER. 43 



ble after a good season.* It is evident, also, that by this contrivance, 

 no more comb need be removed from the hive than is absolutely- 

 wanted, whereas, if it were attempted, according to the old plan, to 

 partially deprive a stock, in order to get at the honey, the whole of 

 a comb must needs be cut away, and much of it wasted. Now, on 

 the contrary, it need not be even severed from the sides ; but, after cut- 

 ting out a sufficiency of ceiled honey comb, say two or three inches 

 deep, the lower part may be left with advantage a clear gain to the 

 bees another year, who will quickly fill up the vacant space. 



It is certain, however, after all, that no hives can equal, much less 

 surpass, Mr. Grolding's modification of the Huish or Grecian hive, which 

 gives to the apiarian the most perfept command at all times over every 

 movement of his bees. I would strongly advise the amateur, there- 

 fore, to use this in preference to evqjy other bee domicile, if he have 

 a just confidence in his skill and courage. Hives of this sort, should, 

 however, be constructed of two separate sizes, as those already de- 

 scribed by me in chapter IV, with one end of the hive an inch wider 

 in diameter than the other. The bars, of 

 which there may be about eight or nine, 

 are affixed to, and rest upon, the upper- 

 most band of straw, at the broader end of 

 the hive ; these should be distant about half 

 an inch apart, each being three eighths of 

 an inch in thickness, and one inch and one 

 eighth broad. They are kept in their places jj K (Jolding's Hive. 

 by small pegs of wood, or iron brads, one 



inch and a half long, which penetrate the straw at each end of the 

 bars. A band or hoop of wood, as in the former case, encircles the 

 upper part, firmly attached to the hive, but, (unlike the former,) pro- 

 jecting three eighths of an inch upwards, so as, in fact, to be on a level 



* I think, as a general rule, not more than from 20 lbs. to 23 lbs. of honey should be allowed 

 for the winter provision of a stock of bees. More than this they are never likely to require ; 

 and what surplus they have, if in any quantity during the month previous to the swarm- 

 ing season, is merely an incumbrance, occupying room that ought to be taken up with 

 young grubs; on which account its presence may be considered a positive evil. Suppos- 

 ing, therefore, a hive intended for winter stock should attain to the weight of 50 lbs. con- 

 tents, of which 42 lbs. is reckoned to be pure honey, as much as 16 lbs. may be safely re- 

 moved, but not more, as some few pounds are sure to be wasted in the process of depriva- 

 tion, or subsequently by the bees secreting wax ; for they will make an attempt to replace 

 the combs immediately. 



