MOVABLE-FRAME HIVES. 163 



ents in the upper story, in the winter, so as to carry off all 

 superfluous moisture (636), without injurious ventilation. 



337. For the benefit of beginners, it may be necessary 

 to add, that the bees will glue up with propolis (336), and 

 sooner or later entirely close any ventilating holes through 

 which they cannot pass. Hence air holes, covered with wire 

 cloth, miss their purpose altogether. In the same manner, 

 and with a great deal of labor, bees will try to close any 

 upper entrances, such as that of fig. 71, if these remain open, 

 when not needed for the welfare of the colony. 



338. The portico (fig. 64) of the Langstroth hive has 

 advantages, and disadvantages, which about balance one an- 

 other. Its advantages are, that it shelters the bees from rain 

 in Summer, and from cold and snow in Winter. Its disad- 

 vantages are, that it sometimes harbors enemies of bees, moths, 

 spiders, etc., etc., and sometimes helps to hide the queen from 

 the Apiarist's diligent search. It hinders the bee-keeper 

 when he wants to watch closely the sport of bees before the 

 entrance. 



339. An entrance block, e, fig. 73, is used to reduce the 

 entrance of weak colonies in Spring or at any time when 

 robbing is feared (668), or when warmth is desired. 



The Hive We Prefer. 



340. The diagram we give (fig. 72), of the hive we pre- 

 fer to all others, can be taken as a pattern for any other 

 size, by changing the size of the pieces and retaining only 

 the exact distances between the frames and the body, and 

 the height of the entrance. Its details can be varied ad 

 infinitum. It can hold eleven frames, but generally we use 

 only nine frames and two contracting, or division-boards, or 

 ten frames and one division-board. (349.) 



This hive, in the dimensions given, is not a new, untried 

 pattern. We have used several hundreds of them for years, 



