BEES, BEE-HIVESj AND BEE CULTURE. 27 



if placed in a bee-house such protection may be dispensed with. 

 The outer case is well painted, of a green colour, and when it is used 

 the hive may be placed in any part of the garden. The dimensions of 

 this hive, with outside cover, are 18 inches square, 2 feet 6 inches high. 



Suitable stands are provided, consisting of a stout pedestal with 

 four feet. Stakes should be driven into the ground to secure the 

 whole against wind. Height from the ground, 4 feet 3 inches. 



The bars before alluded to are for the purpose of inducing the 

 bees to build parallel combs ; for without this, extraction would be 

 impossible. It is a great convenience, in many ways, to be able to 

 take out a bar of comb, it gives such complete control over the 

 hive. 



To ensure comb-building on the bars, pieces of clean worker 

 comb should always be carefully preserved; and before a swarm is 

 put in, either every bar, or if guide comb is not plentiful, every 

 other bar should have a piece fixed to it in the following manner : 

 cut a piece of clean empty comb of tlie required size, say two 

 inches square, not less ; heat a common flat iron, and slightly warm 

 the bar with it, then melt a little bees-wax upon it ; draw the comb 

 quick over the heated iron, hold it down on the centre of the bar, 

 giving a very slight movement backwards and forwards, then leave 

 it to grow cold ; and if cleverly managed, it will be found to be 

 firmly attached. Care must be taken that the pitch or inclination 

 of the comb be the same as it is in the hives — upwards from the 

 centre of each comb. A new plan has lately been introduced by 

 Mr. Woodbury, of Exeter, to facilitate the correct construction of 

 parallel combs. 



TAYLOR'S AMATEUE -BAR HIVE. No. 4. 



Taylor's Amateur Bar Hive is stocked exactly in the same way 

 as before described — viz., by hiving the swarm into the lowest box 

 A, as with an ordinary Cottage Hive, and in a fortnight's tiihe the box 

 B is placed over it, and the zinc slides withdrawn. After this has 

 been given them, and is nearly filled, the super B is raised, and the 

 box C is placed between, immediately over the stock box, to induce 

 the bees to continue the combs. 



This hive consists of three boxes, one above the other, similar to 

 the No . 3 . The boxes are less in diameter than the foregoing, and have 

 seven moveable bars in each. Recent improvements and observations 



