74 



HIVES. 



top, letting the ends lap on tlie posts just enough to be 

 held with a nail. Select straight smooth straw, — rye is 

 best— cut it just IO5 inches long, moisten it a little, lay the 

 hive on its side, and put the straw on the lath, till a little 

 more than fuU, requiring some pressure to make it even 

 with the posts. Some screw or lever is necessary to press 

 it firmly. Laths corresponding with those inside are to be 

 nailed outside, to hold it. Thicker pieces would, per- 

 haps, do better. Pieces 1^ inches square sawed in halves, 

 diagonally, would do very well, or pieces turned in a lathe, 



I 





Fig. 13. — STRAW HIVE FOK WINTER. 



with beads and moldings, cut in two, and the flat side laid 

 next the straw, would improve the appearance. 



A strong box to just fit the inside is quite necessary to 

 keep the lath in place while pressing the straw. It is also 

 necessary that the two middle laths are fastened together 

 by a smaH annealed wire, to keep them from bending from 

 the resistance of the straw when out of the press. The 

 wire should be put on the inner one, and the ends remain 

 projecting through the straw as it is laid on. When the 



