70 THE APIARY. 



topped hive, also made of straw bound with cane ; a 

 hoop is worked into the straw, and made sufficiently 

 large to allow the cover to drop over the top hoop of 

 the lower hive, keeping the whole close, and preventing 

 wet from drifting in. A zinc ventilator, ornamentally 

 painted, forms the apex : this is useful in letting the 

 confined hot air pass away in warm weather. The ven- 

 tilator is opened by raising it. The dimensions of the 

 lower or stock-hive are fifteen inches diameter, nine and 

 a half inches deep outside; its weight, when empty, 

 seven and a half pounds. The cover, or top hive, is twelve 

 inches deep and fifteen inches in diameter; the orna- 

 mental zinc top being four inches deep. The whole is 

 about twenty-four inches high. The weight of a hive 

 packed, including glasses, &c., is about i8 lbs. 



These hives have a tasteful appearance in the garden, 

 but they require some further protection from the weather 

 in the form of a cover or of a bee-house — contrivances 

 that have yet to be described. In extreme cold weather, 

 a litrie additional protection, by having matting folded 

 round them, will be advisable. 



One of the advantages this hive has over the common 

 cottage hive is, that it affords opportunity for the humane 

 management of bees. The owner has also the power of 

 taking a glass of honey-comb of pure quality, free from 

 the extraneous matter known as "bee-bread," instead 

 of combs that are darkened by having brood hatched in 

 them. By this system, we have combs newly made and 



