50 HIVES. 



more room bees have to enter boxes, the less reluc- 

 tance is manifested in commencing their work in 

 them ; but here is another extreme to be avoided : 

 when the holes are much larger, or more of them, or 

 even one very large one, the queen is very apt to go 

 into the boxes and deposit her eggs, which renders the 

 comb tough, dark, &c., also bee-bread is stored near 

 the brood. Dr. Bevan's and Miner's cross-bar hives 

 are objectionable on this account, they offer too free 

 access to the boxes ; we want all the room that will 

 answer, and no more. 



A SUGGESTION. 



. Mr. Miner's cross-bar hive is intended to make the 

 bees construct all straight combs, and probably will 

 do it. But the disadvantage of bee-.bread and brood 

 in the boxes will not be made up by straight combs. 

 For the benefit of those who have been made to be- 

 lieve straight combs all important, and perhaps have 

 purchased the right to make the hive, and had some 

 constructed, and have found bee-bread in their surplus 

 honey, I would suggest an improvement, (that is, if 

 it is thought the straight combs will pay. If you have 

 not the right for the cross-bar hive, and you wish to 

 use it, I would say, buy the right, and remove all 

 grounds of complaint with him.) Put in the bars and 

 hive your bees as he directs. After all the combs are 

 started, instead of setting the open bottom boxes 

 (which are also unsuitable for sending to market) di- 

 rectly on the bars as he recommends, take off the 

 cloth, and with screws fasten on a top with ten holes, 



