THE WOODBURY UNICOMB HIVE. 105 



opening in the wall or sash ; through this the bees find 

 access, an alighting-board being fixed outside the build- 

 ing. It is requisite that the passage-way be about this 

 length, in order to allow the hive to turn round clear 

 of the side of the building. 



In the summer of 1863, we had ample proof of the 

 success of this hive during its exhibition at the annual 

 show of the Bath and West of England Agricultural 

 Society at Exeter.* We selected six combs, and packed 

 them in one of the square box Woodbury bar and 

 frame hives, and, on arrival at Exeter, Mr. Woodbury 

 assisted us in taking out the frames and placing them 

 in the unicomb. That being fixed against the boarded 

 side of a shed, we found the covered way a great con- 

 venience, and it answered remarkably well ; the bees 

 did not seem to be inconvenienced by having to travel 

 through so long a passage. A glass covering admitted 



* It may require explanation how it was that we took bees to 

 Exeter, which sounds something like " carrying coals to New- 

 castle." The reason was this — the garden of our friend, Mr. 

 Woodbury, at Mount Radford, from which we could have been 

 supplied, wa£ so near to the show yard, that he was apprehensive 

 a large number of the bees would return to their old hives. Our 

 bees from a distance would, according to their nature, return to 

 their own hive, for bees, although they may be -moved miles 

 away, take care to mark their new position, and are careful to 

 return to it. Mr. Woodbury lent us a small stock of his Ligu- 

 rian bees, and between it and our own hive the crowd of visitors 

 divided their attention. 



