§111.] THE COTTAGERS HIVE. in 



which adds very much to its firmness and durability. 

 The floor-board is one inch and a quarter thick, with a 

 way sunk therein for the entrance. A small round mat 

 of straw closes the hole in the top ; this mat may be 

 fixed by wooden pegs. We have now described what is 

 termed the stock hive, which is, in fact, an old-fashioned 

 straw hive, adapted, modernised, and improved to the 

 more humane, viz., the depriving system. The weight 

 of the stock hive, with its floor-board, is about seven 

 pounds. 



The super is five inches deep outside and twelve or 

 so in diameter, and, when filled, contains about twelve 

 pounds of honey and comb. Its purpose is exactly 

 identical with that of the three bell glasses described on 

 page 117: the lower hive is for the breeding compartment 

 and for the storage of honey for the bees' own consump 

 tion, while the upper is to receive the surplus of their 

 treasure which the owner intends to appropriate pure 

 for himself. A glass window, which is placed at the 

 side of the super, is useful for inspecting the progress 

 made in filling it. An adapting-board to facilitate removal 

 is added underneath it by some. 



A common straw hive, sufficiently deep to cover, drops 

 over the super, keeping the window dark, "and fitting 

 close on to the stock hive. This cover hive may be 

 made fast by driving in two skewers, one on each side, 

 to keep the whole firm. Unless placed in a bee-house 

 or under a shed, the outside should be painted ; or a 



