CHAPTER VIII. 



OF BOXES, ETC., SUITABLE FOR AW IN-DOOR APIARY. 



There can be no doubt whatever, that hives of wood are preferable to 

 hives of straw, for many reasons, where so situated as to be sheltered 

 from the effects of both heat and cold ; hence their universal adoption 

 by the best and most successful amateur apiarians. 



" The best wood for them," says Dr. Bevan, " is red cedar, the fra- 

 grance of which is regarded by some as agreeable to the bees ; but the 

 chief grounds of preference are its lightness and sponginess, (whence 

 it is a bad conductor of heat,) and its effect in keeping moths out of 

 the boxes. Whatever kind of wood be made use of, it should be well 

 seasoned ; yellow deal answers the purpose very well." In making 

 the boxes, Mr. Taylor judiciously advises that they be "well put to- 

 gether, observing that the grain of the wood always runs in the hori- 

 zontal direction, when its tendency to expansion or contraction is ren- 

 dered" of no importance." The size which he recommends, I think, how- 

 ever, too small for the stock or breeding hive. Instead of " eleven inches 

 square," I would recommend twelve or thirteen, and from eight to 

 nine inches high, inside measure ; the thickness of the wood through- 

 out being " not left than an inch, or, if exposed, a little thicker.'' 



In my own apiary, I prefer the collateral system, or, I should rather 

 say, I adopt a combination of both the collateral and storifying 

 methods ; for while I use two boxes collaterally, it is my practice to 

 place several large glasses at a time each over its hole on the top of 

 the stock box ; as I have always found that bees work more readily 

 over their breeding hive than at its side ; at the same time, to afford 

 them abundance of room, without giving them the labor of ascending 

 to a second or third story, I use one side box to each colony. 



It will be found in general, that two such boxes afford ample accom- 

 modation for the largest population that can be reared on the depriv- 



