114 MODERN BEEHIVES. [Ch. in. 



§ V. NEIGHBOURS' IMPROVED COTTAGE HIVE. 



Our improved cottage hive (shown page 113), is neatly 

 made of straw bound with cane, and therefore very 

 durable.* The lower hive is covered with a wooden top, 

 having in it three holes, through which the bees convey 

 their honey into three middle-sized bell glasses with ven- 

 tilators, which, when filled, hold about six pounds each. 

 There is a hoop at the bottom, another round the top of 

 the lower hive ; to this the wooden crown-board is fastened. 

 These hoops are a great improvement, and are less liable 

 to harbour insects than if straw alone were used. The 

 floor-board, as its name implies, is a wooden board one 

 inch and a quarter thick, with a projection of three or 

 four inches under the entrance to form an alighting-place. 

 This entrance is cut out of, or sunk in, the board. There 

 are three windows in the lower hive, each closed with a 

 shutter ; these are very useful and interesting for inspect- 

 ing the progress made. Across the centre window is a 

 thermometer, enclosed at the sides by slips of glass. 

 The window shutters, being of oak colour, add very 

 much to the appearance. The upper hive, which is 

 merely a cover for the glasses, is made like the lower ; 



* This is the hive referred to by the " Bee-Master " of the Times 

 (Dr. Gumming) when he says : "The second kind of hive I alluded 

 to is made of stravi', and may be purchased at Neighbours', in 

 Holbom. . . . It is so well made that it' willlast very long. I have 

 had one in constant use during ten years, and ■ it is still as good as 

 when it was bought." 



