HIVES. 19 



prevent the combs from slipping down, wlien they 

 happen, to be made, to have the edges supported. The 

 objections are, that filth from the bees will not fall aa 

 readily to the bottom as if every side was perpendicu- 

 lar, and the extra trouble in constructing. 



mCLINKD BOTTOM-BOARDS DO NOT THROW OUT ALL THE WORMS, 



Inclined bottom-boards form the basis of one or two 

 patents, said to be good to roll out the worms. I can 

 imagine a pea' rolling off such a board ; but a worm 

 is not often found in a rolling condition. Most of us 

 know, that when a worm drops from the combs, it is 

 like the spider, with a thread attached above. The 

 only way that I can imagine one to be thrown out by 

 these boards-, is to have it dead when it strikes it, or 

 so cold that it cannot spin a thread, and wind to shake 

 the board, till it rolls off. The objections to these 

 boards are coupled with the suspended hive, with 

 which they are usually connected. 



OBJECTIONS TO SUSPENDED HIVES. 



All suspended hives must be objectionable to any one 

 who wishes to know the true condition of his bees at 

 all times. Only think of the trouble of unhooking the 

 bottom-board, and. getting down on your back, or 

 twisting your neck till your head is dizzy, to look up 

 among the combs, and then see nothing satisfactory 

 for want of light ; or to lift the hive from its support- 

 ers, and turn it over. The operation is too formida- 

 ble for an indolent man, or one that has much other 

 business. The examination would very probably be 



