GEJS[ERAL HSMARKS. 251 



cularly apply to the summer season. In winter or in 

 the spring, when the weather is cool and the bees are 

 not so numerous, hives may be shut up even for a day 

 or so without much ventilation, and but little harm will 

 arise therefrom. 



When we send away stocks or swarms, we are always 

 careful to pack them so as to allow of a full current of air, 

 in order that they may travel even in the hottest weather. 



Some bee-keepers find an adapting-board convenient 

 for placing underneath straw supers^' as it facilitates their 

 removal. These boards are made of mahogany half 

 an inch thick, with a hole in the centre corresponding 

 with that in the stock-hive. We do not consider it neces- 

 sary to fix cross sticks in the straw stock-hives, as is 

 frequendy done ; but if the apiarian prefers to have his 

 hives so furnished, there is no serious objection to it. 

 These observations refer to our cottager's hive 

 (page 80). - , 



There is another little matter of detail that should be 

 named here; that is, the necessity of the bee-keeper 

 always having a common hive in readiness near the 

 bees, so as to be able to secure any swarm which may 

 unexpectedly start. 



Here our pleasant task must close. We trust that all 

 information has been given that is needful to enable tiie 

 practical bee-keeper to begin business and the scien- 

 tific apiarian to extend his observations. By way of 



