22 HIVES. 



Do not be too hasty, friend, I think I can instf uct 

 you to keep bees on principles in accordance with, 

 their nature, which is very simple, so that if you can 

 be induced to try again, we will have the hives cost 

 but little, at any rate. 



REASONS OF rAttURE IN DrVIDING HIVES. 



The greatest difficulty with dividing hives, appeared 

 to be here. It must be constructed with a partition 

 or division to keep the combs in each apartment sep- 

 arate ; otherwise, we make tearing work in the di- 

 vision. When bees are first put into such hives, un- 

 less the swarm is very large, and honey abundant, 

 one apartment will be filled to the bottom before a 

 commencement is made in the other. 



Mr. A. — •" "What difference can that make ? It is 

 necessary to have the hive full ; if it cannot be all filled 

 at once, why let them fill part." 



The difference is this. The first combs built by a 

 swarm are for brood, and store-combs afterwards, as 

 needed ; one apartment will be nearly filled with all 

 brood-combs,' and the other with store-combs and 

 honey. Now in the two kinds of cells there is a great 

 difference; those for breeding are near half an inch 

 in length, while those for storing are sometimes two 

 inches or more ; totally unfit for breeding ; until the 

 bees cut them off to the proper length, which they 

 will not do, unless compelled for want of room, con- 

 sequently this side of store-combs is but little used for 

 brood. "When such hive ia divided, the chances are 

 not more than one in four, that this apartment will 



