126 MODERN BEEHIVES. [Ch. in. 



packing. The centre, or stock box, a, called by Mr. 

 Nutt the Favilion of Nature, is the receptacle for the 

 swarm, e e are two block fronts, which open with a 

 hinge. A semicircular hole, three inches long and two 

 wide in the middle, is cut in the upper floor-board 

 immediately under the window of each box; these aper- 

 tures are closed by separate perforated zinc slides. The 

 blocks, when opened, afford a ready means of reducing 

 the temperature of the side boxes, and they are also 

 useful for allowing the bees to throw out any refuse. 

 The centre f is a drawer, in which is a feeding-trough, 

 so constructed that the bees can 

 descend through the openings just 

 mentioned on to a false bottom of 

 perforated zinc. Liquid food is 

 easily poured in by pulling out the 

 drawer a little way ; the bees readily come down on to 

 the perforated zinc, and take the food by inserting their 

 probosces through the perforations, with no danger of 

 being drowned. Care must be exercised that the food 

 is not given in such quantity as to come above the holes ; 

 by this means each hive has a supply of food accessible 

 only to the inmates, with no possibility, when closely 

 shut in, of attracting robber bees from other hives. 



The exterior of these hives is well painted with two 

 coats of lead colour, covered with two coats of green, 

 and varnished: Notwithstanding this preservation it is 

 absolutely essential to place such a hive under a shed 



