STEWARTON, OR AYRSHIRE HIVE. 117 



might part from their foundations if there were no inter- 

 mediate bars, which is now the case in the stock-hive, 

 composed as it is of two boxes. If these two boxes were 

 in one, the depth of each comb would be twelve inches ; 

 and when filled with brood and honey, would probably 

 weigh 10 lbs. This is a great weight to be supported in 

 hot summer weather, when the wax is softened by the 

 heat. Another distinguishing feature that the Stewarton 

 hive possesses is the use of the box c, which, by 

 giving increased room, as the season advances, pre- 

 vents what is often an annoyance to the apiarian, viz., 

 a late swarm — too late to be of any value, and impover- 

 ishing the stock by a division of its numbers, thereby 

 perhaps impeding the completion of the super. A further 

 advantage of the box c, is that it induces the bees (who 

 frequendy hang in dusters about the entrance) to carry 

 on their labours instead of remaining in enforced idleness. 



We often receive from Scotland magnificent boxes of 

 honey ; the fine quality is no doubt to be attributed to 

 good pasturage, and to the fkct of keeping the stocks 

 strong (see page 19), by adopting the means before 

 hinted at; and thus having hives well stored and weU 

 populated early in the season, so that they may betimes 

 take fiill advantage of supplies of nectar in the flowers. 

 Early honey is generally the best in colour. 



The old proverb runs : — " It is the early bird that finds 

 the worm." The hive that is strong is certain to pro- 

 duce the most honey. To make this plain, we will suppose 



