THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 63 



ing system, if, together with their use, room additional be supplied as fast 

 as the bees require it, by giving them three or four bee glasses, from six 

 to eight inches in diameter, (or several smaller ones,) at a time. To 

 furnish space for the glasses, which must communicate every one with 

 the stock box, each by its peculiar hole, (for the bees are usually very 

 much indisposed to work over a side box, though I have known them 

 'do so,) it will be found advantageous to use an adapter of thin ma- 

 hogany or cedar — woods that are least given to warp — (if deal is used, 

 it should be framed,) from fourteen to sixteen inches in diameter. 

 There must be pierced in it>, four holes, each two inches in diameter, 

 exactly corresponding with four holes, (more or less,) on the top of 

 the box over which it is placed. Two or three long screws will keep 

 it firmly in its position, only let them be well greased, to facilitate their 

 removal. This adapter, (which, by the way, must not project over the 

 side box,) is only for temporary use in summer, in the working months; 

 after July, therefore, if done with, it may be removed. By this means, 

 room for the storing of between 25 to 35 lbs. or more of honey 

 may be supplied at the top, not to speak of the side box, which may 

 hold at least 60 lbs. more ; and the season must be good indeed, and 

 the bees amazingly numerous, to require more hive room than this. 



Each of my boxes, which are made of exactly the same dimensions, so 

 as to be shifted, if need be, from one colony to another, (this is, how- 

 ever, of more importance in the case of straw hives than of boxes,) 

 has three windows — and I see no reason why it should not have four 

 — made as large as possible consistently with a due regard to the 

 strength of the box. A door, fixed on hinges, closes neatly over the 

 glass in each window, and it effectually excludes the light, as the glass 

 is fitted in a rabbet with putty. The rabbet should be as shallow as 

 possible, that the inside of the hive may be perfectly plain, for the fa- 

 culty of cutting out the combs. 



Dr. Bevan recommends the application of bars to each box ; these 

 will not, however, be of any great advantage in the working of the 

 hives according to my plan, while they cannot fail to increase the ex- 

 pense of their construction very considerably. Still, if it be thought 

 desirable, (and they will often be found useful,) they may be added. 

 They are generally made to run parallel with the sides of the box ; 

 those, however, who like, as I do, to see as much as possible of the 

 economy of the hive at as many points as possible, I would advise to 



