IMPROVED COTTAGE HIVE. 73 



room, which they will readily fill with comb. It is often 

 found useful to attach a piece of clean empty honey- 

 comb to the ventilating tube of the glass ; it is an attrac- 

 tion, and induces the bees to commence working in it 

 sooner than they otherwise would do. The ventilator 

 should always remain open during the day, to allow 

 the hot air to pass away from the interior, thereby con- 

 tributing to the whiteness and beauty of the work ; the 

 bees enjoy the refreshment of coolness thereby afforded, 

 and they work the faster for it. At evening, all ventila- 

 tion should be stopped, and the glasses wrapped round 

 with flannel or some warm material, for the reasons 

 mentioned at page 65. 



The directions for taking honey are much the same as 

 before mentioned. Some apiarians, however, consider 

 that deprivation is more easily accomplished by discon- 

 necting the super over night, in the manner described at 

 page 58. The bee-keeper, equipped with bee-dress and 

 gloves, must first raiise the glass of comb, and, blowing a 

 little smoke to intimidate and drive back 'the bees, wedge 

 it up all round, an inch or so from the crown-board, by 

 means of three or four blocks, thus to remain all night. 

 This operation is best performed a little before dusk. 

 Bees are then less likely to come out, and if they should 

 do so, will speedily return. The opening in the crown- 

 board remains unclose^, to afford the bees the oppor- 

 tunity of descending, and joining the stock-hive below, 

 which they will naturally do for warmth. The upper 



