82 THE BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 
narrow. They may be made of the lighter and more 
porous kinds of deal, some preferring red cedar; but 
whichever is made use of, it should be thoroughly sea- 
soned and well put together; observing that the 
grain of the wood always runs in the horizontal diree- 
tion, when its tendency to expansion or contraction is 
rendered of no importance. Conflicting opinions pre- 
vail as to the best size for bee-boxes ; but, like almost 
everything else where these insects are concerned, 
something must be left dependent on circumstances 
and locality, as well as the intended mode of working 
them. <A fair average size for a plain box is twelve 
inches square, by eight inches deep, within-side ;* the 
thickness of wood throughout being not less than an 
inch, or, if exposed, more than this. The cover of the 
box should have a small projection on all sides, for 
better appearance, and to afford convenience for lift- 
ing. On the top a two or three inch hole may be cut 
in the centre, for the purpose of supering, of feeding, 
or ventilation. Instead, however, of one central hole, 
some persons prefer to have three smaller ones, cut 
triungularly ; affording convenience for the use of a 
single large, or three small glasses. It is best to leave 
the roof of the box, within-side, unplaned, as the bees 
have sometimes a difficulty in making the first combs 
* A partial reaction has taken place in regard to the objection to 
deep hives made by Mr. Taylor and others of lus day, for while it was 
of course correct that in such hives the heat wouid tise to the top, it 
was found that in the low hives adopted by him and Mr. Woodbury 
there was not a sufficient amount of heat engend red. A depth of nine 
or ten inches would be now preferred, or the boxes might rather be 
larger every way, and fo!low the dimensions of some frame hive in the 
next section. A capacity of a bushel is now the recummendation for 
stock-hives, whether wooden boxes or straw skeps. 
