120 THE APIARY j OE, 



A straw cover is suspended oyer the upper compartment by a rope orer s 

 palley, which cover is raised up by the attendant at pleasure. The larger or 

 bottom compartment rests on a wooden floor, which has a circular groove sinking 

 therein to receive the bell-glass. A landing-place projecting, as usual, with 

 sunken way, to enable the bees to pass in and out of their habitation, com- 

 pletes this contrivance. 



In addition to Mr, Neishbotjii's Crystal Apiary, he also exldbits a 

 Cottager's Straw Hive, Taylor's Amateur Bee-Hive, a Glass Hive, Nun's 

 Patent Collateral Hive, the Ladies' Observatory Hive, Neighbotju's Improved 

 Cottage Hive, and Payne's Cottage Hive. 



The Cottager's Hive is '. simply that of the form we find in use in most 

 parts of the country, where the indnstrious cottagers or their wives, by a little 

 attention to their interesting little labourers, are enabled to add something to 

 their usually scanty earnings. This kind of hive is usually made of straw, 

 resting on a circular wooden board, witb part of the board or floor projecting 

 in front as a landing place for the bees, which enter under the edge of the 

 straw by means of a sinking in the floor. 



Tayloe's Amateur's Bee-Hive consists of three small square boxes, one 

 above another, with a roof over the top story ; the ventilation being effected 

 by perforations under the eaves ; each side of every story has a window and 

 shutter. The landing place is in front of the bottom story, and the entrance 

 to the hive is a long slit about | inch high. 



The Glass Hive or Ladies' Observatory Hive, is similar to that in which 

 the bees are at work in Mr. Neighbour's Apiary already mentioned, but 

 on account of the number of bees at work therein, and the extent of comb 

 already effected, the interior perches cannot be seen. These wooden perches 

 are arranged in parallel lines, leaving a space next the glass all round, the 

 whole being framed together with a bar at right angles, and resting on an 

 upright support in the middle. 



The Improved Cottage Hive of the same exhibitor consists of a straw 

 circular lower compartment, having windows and outside shutters. A thermo- 

 meter is placed just inside one of the windows. The floor is of wood, with 

 a landing place and sunken way, as already mentioned in some of the other 

 hives. lu the top, whicb is also of wood, are three circular perforations, each 

 of about two inches in diameter; above which are placed as many bell-glasses. 

 There is a small hole in the top of each of the glasses, through which a per- 

 forated tubular trunk is inserted, for the sake of taking off the moisture from 

 the interior of the hive. Within the glass is a feeding-trough of zinc, circular 

 in shape, with a floating perforated floor, on which thJe bees alight, and in the 

 the winter season regale themselves witb the honey which is found in the 

 various perforations, as it floats up to the level of the honey, contained in the 

 small fiUing-trough, through which the honey, or beer and sugar, is poured. 

 The glasses are covered with a straw cap, removable at pleasure, 



Messrs. Neighbour's contributions are completed with, tin perforated 

 umigators, by the use of which the bees are stupefied for a while, when 

 required to be moved from one hive to another ; and specimens of honey and 

 honeycomb of the season 1850. 



