mm, BEE-HIVES, AND BEE CULTUllE. 39 



to pass tlirongh tlie ordeal of the winter season. A stock of bees 

 might be kept through the year in a hive of this kind, but would 

 require well wrapping round to keep out the cold. There should be 

 a small glass over the hole at top so as to allow the moisture to arise 

 and condense, instead of doing so in the hive. The operation of 

 exchanging the hive is so easy, that we should be content to place 

 a stock in one, say, from April to September, and shift it in the 

 autumn. Sach a hive is a very pleasing object of interest, as in it 

 the whole commonwealth of bees is exposed to view ; and the hive 

 need not be obscured from daylight, provided it be protected from 

 sun and rain. All the external wood-work is of oak colour 

 varnished, so that the appearance of the "Glass Bar and Frame 

 Hive" is extremely neat and much approved of. 



Frame. — As before mentioned, each stock 

 hive has ten of these frames, each 13 inches 

 I long hy 71 inches high, with a f inch projection 

 at each upper end, which rests in the notch, 

 either back or front. The width both of the bar and frame is | of an 

 inch ; this is less by J of an inch than the bar recommended by the 

 older apiarians. Mr. Woodbury, — whose authority on the modern 

 plans for keeping bees is of great weight, — finds the | of an inch 

 bar an improvement, because with them the combs are closer 

 together, and require fewer bees to cover the brood. Then, too, 

 in the same space that eight old fashioned bars occupied the 

 narrower frames admit of an additional bar, so that, by using these, 

 increased accommodation is afforded for breeding and the storing of 

 honey. 



Improved Comb Bar. — Mr. Woodbury says that this 

 little contrivance has proved very effectual in securing 

 straight combs when guide combs are not obtainable. 

 The lower angles are rounded off, whilst a central rib is 

 added of about ^ of an inch in breadth and depth. 

 This central rib extends to within | an inch of each 

 Section of bar. ^^^^ where it is removed in order to admit of the bar 

 fitting into the usual notch. All that is necessary to insure the 

 regular formation of combs is, to coat the underneath surface of the 

 central rib with melted wax. Mr. Woodbury further says, "my 

 practice is to use plain bars whenever guide-combs are attainable, as 

 these can be attached with much greater facility to a plain than 



