108 THE BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 
back piece against which it presses, and I, K two 
movable bars for insertion between it and the runners, 
by means of which it is held in its intended position 
(the runners not coming into use till the board is low- 
ered on to them by the extraction of these bars). 
By having the legs fastened to the hive proper there is 
opportunity given for cleaning and returning the board 
in winter; but on the other hand, when introducing a 
swarm, Mr. Cheshire considers the independent stand 
more convenient for the beginner. For this last oper- 
ation there is a purpose in the bars just noticed, for, 
by removing the one at I, but retaining the other, the 
floor-board will drop down in front, and offer to the 
bees a wide entrance and a sloping floor. The super- 
cover forms the upper half of the hive in the outside 
view, and is represented by L M N O in the section. 
It is hinged so as to open at one side, and is so con- 
trived, by the aid of a chain or a side-stay, that it will 
fall back just far enough to form a horizontal table, 
handy to the bee-keeper for supporting apparatus. It 
moreover carries within it a slate with an attached 
pencil, for making entry of whatever of note passes in 
respect of the hive. The legs splay to widen the 
base, and the roof has its eaves amply projecting. 
The sectional view shows the walls of the stock-hive 
to be double, with a space of dead air of their own 
thickness between them. But the hive is also to be 
had in straw. Blocks above and below the air-space 
keep the inner sides in position. ‘As heat is con- 
ducted by air with extreme slowness,” says Mr. 
Cheshire, ‘‘these means prevent the escape of that 
generated by the bees during rigorous weather, while 
