BEESj BEE-H1VE9, AND BEE CULTTJUE. 29 



slips of glass. The window shutters being painted green, add 

 very much to its appearance. The upper hive, which is merely a cover 

 for the glasses, is a conical topped hive, also made of straw bound 

 with cane ; a hoop is worked into the straw, and made sufficiently 

 large to allow the cover to drop over the top hoop of the lower 

 hive, keeping the whole close, and preventing wet from drifting in. A 

 zinc ventilator, ornamentally painted, forms the apex ; this is useful 

 in letting the confined hot air pass away in warm weather. The 

 ventilator is opened by raising it. The dimensions of the lower or 

 stock hive are 15 inches diameter, 9 J inches deep outside, its weight 

 when empty 7^ lbs., the cover or top hive is 12 inches deep, and 

 15 inches in diameter, the ornamental zinc top being 4 inches deep. 

 The whole is about 24 inches high. The weight of a hive packed, 

 including glasses, &c., is about 18 lbs. 



These hives have a tasteful appearance in the garden, but they 

 require some further protection from the weather in the form of a 

 cover or of a bee-house — contrivances that have yet to be described. 

 In extreme cold weather, a little additional protection by having 

 matting folded round them will be advisable. 



One of the advantages this hive has over the common cottage 

 hive is that it affords opportunity for the humane management of 

 bees. The owner has also the power of taking a glass of honeycomb 

 of pure quality, free from the extraneous matter, known as " bee- 

 bread," instead of combs that are darkened by having brood hatched 

 in them. By this system, we have combs newly made and used 

 only for depositing the honey first put into them, hence the name 

 "virgin honey." These glassss have a very pretty appearance, 

 and when nicely filled, are very convenient for home use or for 

 making presents. The lower hive is the receptacle for the bees ; 

 when a swarm is placed in this hive, they immediately proceed to 

 fill it with combs, in which to store honey for themselves, and for 

 cells to breed in. This hive remains undisturbed. 



The best mode of tenanting a hive of this description is by 

 placing an early and strong swarm in it, which may be generally 

 procured of a neighbouring bee-keeper ; if from a distance, consider- 

 able care is necessary to admit plenty of air ; the shaking attendaiit 

 upon carriage irritates the bees so much that, if not well ventilated, 

 there is danger of the swarm being stifled, and the finer the swarm, 

 the greater the danger. For the purpose of ventilation, remove the 



