1 08 THE APIARY. 



four months in the year, when bees are most active, and 

 when their operations are most interestingf, this hive may 

 be brought into use, either of the two plans before de- 

 scribed being adopted. An artificial swarm should be 

 put in during May or June, and taken out, in the method 

 before mentioned, and then placed in the square box 

 during the month of September; sometimes it may do 

 for a stock to be put in a month or so earlier, but it 

 should never be retained later in this hive. In October, 

 we often have cold nights ; the bees and brood being in 

 such close contact with the glass, and not able to cluster 

 as is their natural wont, suffer from exposure to the 

 variations of temperature. In some degree to moderate 

 this, we have used treble glass with a space between 

 each square ; greater warmth is thus obtained, and the 

 view is not intercepted. Opportunity should be taken 

 for cleaning the unicomb hive when empty, so as to 

 be ready for re-stocking as a new hive in the follow- 

 ing summer. The unicomb observatory hive is one 

 which might have been suggested by the lines of 

 Evans : — 



" By this blest art our ravished eyes behold 

 The singing masons build their roofs of gold, 

 And mingling multitudes perplex the view, 

 Yet all in order apt their tasks pursue ; 

 Still happier they whose favoured ken hath seen 

 Pace slow and silent round, the state's fair queen." 



