BEES, BEE-HIVES, AND BEE CULTUllE. 19 



semicircular hole 3 inches long, 2 wide in the middle, is cut in the 

 upper bottom-board immediately under the window of each box ; 

 these apertures are closed by separate perforated zinc slides ; these 

 blocks, when opened, afford a ready means of reducing the temperature 

 of the side boxes, a current of air being quickly obtained, and are 

 also useful for allowing the bees to throw out any refuse. 



The centre F is a drawer in which is a feeding trough, so con- 

 structed that the bees can descend through the opening before 

 mentioned on to a false bottom of perforated zinc ; liquid food is 

 readily poured in by pulling out the drawer a little way, the bees 

 come down on to the perforated zinc and take the food by insert- 

 ing their proboscis through the perforations, with no danger 

 of being drowned. Care must be exercised that the food is not 

 given in sach quantity as to come above the holes; by this means, 

 each hive has a supply of food accessible only to the inmates, with 

 no possibility, when closely shut in, of attracting robber bees from 

 other hives. 



The exterior of these hives is well painted with two coats of lead 

 colour, covered with two coats of green, and varnished. Notwith- 

 standing this preservation, it is absolutely essential to place such a 

 hive under a shed or cover of some sort, as the action of the sun and 

 rain is likely to cause the wood to decay, whilst the extreme heat of 

 a summer sun might cause the combs to fall from their foundations. 

 Neat and tasteful sheds may be erected, either of zinc supported 

 by iron or wooden rods, or a thatched roof may be supported in the 

 same manner, and wiU form a pretty addition to the flower garden. 



When erecting a covering, it will be well to make it a foot or 



two longer, so as to allow of a cottage hive on either side, as the 



appearance of the whole is much improved by such an arrangement. 



The following directions, with some adaptation, are from " Nutt 



on Honey Bees •" — 



In the middle box the bees are to be first placed ; — in it they 

 should first construct their beautiful combs, and under the govern- 

 ment of one sovereign — the mother of the hive — carry on their 

 • curious work, and display their astonishing architectural ingenuity. 

 In this box, the regina of the colony, surrounded by her industrious, 

 happy, humming subjects, carries on the propagation of her species, 

 deposits in the cells prepared for the purpose by the other bees, 

 thousands of eggs, though she seldom deposits more than one egg in 



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