HIVES. 77 



you would a stocking before putting it on, and draw this 

 down over the skep until the doubled edge is round the 

 lower part of the hive, just above the flight hole, which 

 should be kept open by a little bridge of wood, zinc, or 

 tin. A cord may now be tied round the sack at the 

 lower part, while shavings, sawdust, or straw should be 

 filled in between the parts of the sack, as it were between 

 the foot and leg of the stocking, until the hive crown is 

 well covered, for here it is that the loss of heat is the 

 greatest. The sack's mouth being tied, the operation is 

 complete, and we may make the hive sufficiently secure 

 to winter in the open by putting over it an inverted milk- 

 pan, if of sufficient size, or, better, the cover. Fig. 9, to 

 be presently described. I could wish all skeps were too 

 large to be covered by American cheese-boxes ; but this 

 not being the fact, I will explain how these covers, which 

 may be obtained for the sum of 3^., may be made into 

 capital rain-tight protectors, good for ten years' wear. 

 The lid of the box, placed on four inverted flower-pots, 

 or some bricks, will make an excellent bottom board, 

 while the box proper forms the case for the hive itself. 

 Before being used, the bottom of it, which will be its top 

 as a hive case, should be painted well over with hot pitch, 

 which should be made to cover i or 2 inches down the 

 side. A sheet of newspaper, or canvas if preferred, should 

 now be evenly spread over the cold pitch, when, by the 

 application of a hot flat iron, used after the manner of 

 the laundress, the pitch is remelted, well incorporated 

 both with the wood and the paper, all cracks are closed, 

 and the cover made absolutely rain-proof. The box may 

 now be placed over the hive, which should be previously 

 furnished with sufficient hay, straw, sacking, or such like 

 material, to fill up any spaces. A capital cover may 

 be made of roofing-felt, which is sold for 8d. the yard 



