68 THE BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 
of the piece of felt or zinc, and from a point A, 
sixteen inches from one end, describe a_ three- 
quarter circle, and then from B, where this meets 
the centre line, describe another to fit into the 
former. If the two incomplete circles were now 
cut out from the sheet, and the straight edges of 
each were brought together, they would be found to 
form perfect cones; but in order to allow their edges 
to overlap for the purpose of fastening, a margin of an 
inch or so should be given down the greater part of 
one edge of each cover, an arrangement which can 
readily be contrived by means of the waste portion 
which still falls between the circles. Instead, therefore, 
of cutting straight from the centre of each to one of 
the sides of the sheet, a commencement is made at 
F, and you follow the thickened line through A, B, E. 
There will thus be no overlupping of the edges near 
the apex of each cone, but that is of no consequence. 
As another form of home-made cover, a ready car- 
penter might incline to construct an octagonal wooden 
spire, which he could frame together at the base, 
and affix at the summit upon a block, with a ball 
or other ornamental projecting head. 
It scarcely seems needful to remark, even in a 
book intended for beginners, that a square cover 
must never be applied to a round hive, unless it 
fits loosely over it like a house, for if bearing upon 
the hive itself it would be likely to press it out of 
shape, and thereby ruin the combs. Of the box class of 
covers we shall speak further on. Care must be taken to 
afford security against the upsetting of the whole 
structure by violent winds. If a closely fitting zine 
