SKEP COVERS. 69 
cover is employed, there should be interposed a 
small worked mat of straw bands, to prevent any 
ill-effect to the hive from the rays of a hot sun. 
Mr. Taylor mentions the following adaptation to 
the flat-topped hive; and it will suit other skeps equally 
well: ‘In the apiary of a friend I have seen a 
dome-formed straw cover to a stock-hive, construc- 
ted with a projection all round of 
about three inches. On the under- 
neath side are attached three or four 
bands in a circle, fitting over the 
outer diameter of the hive. The 
appearance of this cover is ap- 
propriate; but unless carefully 
painted, wet will eventually find 
admittance. It may, however, be 
rendered water-proof by means of 
some kind of cement (I have 
sometimes used for this purpose a 
mixture of paint with fine sawdust, pounded into 
the consistence of paste); and afterwards painted and 
varnished.” 
The introduction of his zine covers, though these 
may be regarded as ‘‘out of fashion,” will perhaps 
be acceptable to some of those home-manufacturers 
for whom they were designed :— 
“A cover of the same form can be manufactured 
in zinc, more or less convex, or sometimes nearly 
flat, its edges being turned down over stiff wire. A 
descending rim of not less than two inches deep is 
attached to the underneath side, encircling the upper 
edge of the hive. There cuzht to be perforations 
