HI.] IVOOD COVERS. 173 



care must be taken not to enrage the bees. Covers 

 formed v/ith opening shutters will obviate the necessity 

 of frequent removal. 



The accompanying figure shows a simple form of 

 cover for dropping over a hive. Its width is twenty-six 

 inches, depth twenty-two, and height in middle nineteen. 



Cottagers often use straight stiff thatching straw, sewed 

 together; this contrivance is termed a "hackle," and has 

 a pretty appearance, particularly if a number of hives are 

 in a row. Care has however to be exercised that mice 

 do not make the cover a resting-place. Mortar is often 

 used for fastening round the hive at the bottom,, but this 

 is a bad plan, as it forms a harbour for insects; the 

 wooden hoop fits so close as to leave httle necessity for 

 anything of the kind. The wooden cover just_ described 

 is more especially constructed for our frame hive (page 

 142), but it may be used for any hive that it will fit over. 



