GENERAL WORK IN WINTER 199 



The objection to pure white is its propensity to "blow" 

 or wipe off in powder after a time; to overcome this 

 defect add a very small quantity of raw sienna — just 

 enough to produce a creamy colour. Treated thus, the 

 lead will not blow, while all the advantages of white are 

 retained. 



HOW TO MIX PAINT. 



There is only one pigment suitable for resisting the 

 weather, and that is lead — pure white lead. A good 

 method of mixing paint is as follows: — If any quantity 

 is to be made an oil drum is the best to use. After 

 putting in the requisite quantity of lead, it should be 

 thoroughly mixed with raw linseed oil, for every two 

 pounds of lead add a piece of patent dryers about the 

 size of a pigeon's egg; this should be mixed thoroughly 

 until it assumes the consistency of newly separated thin 

 cream ; it is then ready for use. 



Use no turpentine on any outside work, as it only in- 

 creases the propensity to ' ' blow. " " Turps " is a medium 

 to enable paint to be applied more easily, but as it 

 possesses no weathering qualities, it is well left out. The 

 best material is the cheapest when buying paint; insist 

 on getting Champion's lead, and Blundell's oil. It 

 is not necessary to paint the insides of the bodies, but the 

 bottom-boards and lids should be painted on both 

 "faces;" lids not painted on the underside have a 

 tendency to become convex, owing to the action of sun 

 heat on the outside, and damp (condensation) on the 

 inside. 



Some object to painting the outsides, "because it 

 prevents the moisture from the inside escaping through 

 the pores of the wood." They argue thus — "if the 

 outside of the hive be impervious to moisture, the 

 condensation is prevented from drying out." This is 

 a fallacy. As has been explained, if the "grain" of the 

 wood were straight through from the inside to the 

 outside, there might be something in the idea; but as it 

 is only the sides of the tubes on the inside of 

 a hive, no water could escape per medium of these 



