48 HIVES. 



is no longer a recommendation, — every tiling is recommend- 

 ed as well as patented ; and when a man comes along who 

 has nothing to offer in favor of his hive, further than the 

 unprecedented amount of honey secured by it, and a fa- 

 vorable notice from a stupid committee, I feel very much 

 like dismissing him without ceremony ; it is evident he 

 has chosen a sorry vocation. 



nrVES PTJRNISHED FOE TRIAL. 



I have, during my bee-keeping experience, received a 

 score or two of patent hives, with the right to use, and a 

 request that I would give them a trial. Some patentees 

 were no doubt sincere in the belief that I would find their 

 hive the "ne plus ultra" of all contrivances, while others, less 

 honest, were evidently only seeking a word of commenda- 

 tion, which would go far towards establishing their hum- 

 bug in the confidence of the easily deluded public. It is 

 often unpleasant to refuse so simple a favor as a trial of a 

 hive, but although furnished gratis, there are seldom good 

 points enough about them to make it worth the trouble ; 

 and further, it is not desirable to have many different pat- 

 terns in one yard. !N"one but the experienced can realize 

 the importance of this last consideration, especially where 

 movable combs are used. Besides, many of these hives are 

 a positive damage to the bee-keeper. I think it will be 

 an easy matter to show that when one desirable point has 

 been gained by a departure from simplicity, it is usually 

 attended by a corresponding evil. 



NBCESSITIES OF THE BEES. 



All variations from the simple box are for the benefit of 

 man, not of the bees. The wants of the bee are few and 

 simple. A suitable cavity for the combs is all that is re- 

 quired. In good seasons, instinct will prompt the collec- 

 tion of a greater supply than is needed for winter. I will 



