HIVES. 49 



requisite room, it must be in its height. But by 

 making the cap of his a little larger, and a few trifling 

 alterations, it would do very well for a patent. And 

 if any one must have a patent hive, my advice is to 

 get that ; it costs but two dollars for the right of using, 

 and is nearer what we want for bees, than any I ever 

 saw. I prefer rabbeting around the edge of the top, in- 

 stead of nailing on a thin board the size of the inside qf 

 the cover, with room for a slide under it ; it affords too 

 nice a place for worms to spin their cocoons. Also, 

 without the rabbeting water may get under the cap, 

 'and pass along the top till a hole lets it among the bees. 

 As for slides, I do not approve of them at all ; in shut- 

 ting off communication, it is almost certain to crush a 

 few bees. This makes them irritable for a week ; 

 they are unnecessary for me, at least. We will now 

 finish the hive. 



DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING HOLES. 



After the top is got out as directed, strike a line 

 through the centre, three and a quarter inches from 

 this, make another on each side, now measure on one 



. of the last lines, two and a half inches for the first 

 hole, two inches for the next, and so on till five are 



. marked on this, and the same number on the other 

 side, ten in all ; these holes should be about an inch 

 diameter, a pattern three and a quarter inches wide, 

 and thirteen in length, with places for holes marked 

 on it, will save time when many are made. When 

 this top is nailed on, the hive is ready. A less num- 

 ber of holes is often used, and one is thought by some 

 to be sufficient ; experience has satisfied me that the 

 3 



