§ xvii.J OUTDOOR UNICOMB HIVE. i6i 



within some of the other five frames ; when the queen is 

 on one of the new combs, opportunity may easily be 

 taken for opening the hive and removing the old dark 

 comb, which, with the unhatched brood, may be deposited 

 in any square hive that needs strengthening. 



If the possessor of a square Woodbury frame hive 

 wishes to start a strong unicomb colony, and does not 

 object to appropriating the stock, he must take out of 

 the \A'oodbury hive any six combs on the frames, and 

 put the unicomb in its place so as to receive all the 

 returning bees that happen to be abroad ; the remaining 

 combs can be inserted in any other frame hives in 

 which there may be room. We have had this hive in 

 operation, stocked in such manner, and found it to 

 answer remarkably well. On a lawn, placed on a suit- 

 able ornamental stand, it formed a pleasing and in- 

 structive object. 



In unicomb hives there is considerable difficulty in 

 keeping the bees alive through the winter, but where 

 the combs are removable, this can be avoided by the 

 transfer recommended in Chap. V. § xx. In some 

 degree to moderate the variations of temperature we have 

 used treble glass with a space between each square ; 

 greater warmth is thus obtained, and the view is not 

 intercepted. Opportunity should be taken for cleaning 

 the unicomb hive when empty. 



