HIVES. 75 



outside piece is uailed on, and before the pressure is re- 

 laxed, the wire should be passed around it and twisted to 

 hold it firmly. The ends need nothing of the kind. Make 

 a mat for the top, by framing together vertically, four 

 pieces similar to those used for the hive, rabbet out the 

 end pieces on the lower edge one-fourth inch square, to 

 hold the ends of the three laths to be nailed on at equal 

 distances apart. The straw is filled in and pressed, and 

 pieces nailed over, like the sides just described. Mr. Stil- 

 well has a hive similar to this in principle, (the shape of 

 which I do not like, however,) in which the straw is held 

 by sewing with heavy twine, the manner of holding the 

 straw forming the base of a patent. Whether it is better 

 on the whole, I am unable to say. 



For the Leaf or TJnderhill hive, or any, where the body 

 of combs is separate- from the hive itself, a straw box with 

 the top fast to it can be made just large enough to cover 

 the frames. The wooden box for summer is simply to be 

 lifted ofi^, and the other set over. 



Glass inserted on one or all sides of a hive, makes it 

 very interesting, but as We now have the movable comb, 

 whereby the interior of the hive may all be brought to 

 light, it IS of less consequence than when we were obliged 

 to depend on external observations for all our knowl- 

 edge of the internal arrangements of the hive. 



OBSERVATOKY HTVB. 



The perfect observatory hive, however, can not fail to 

 be highly interesting to all who feel a curiosity to behold 

 the interior of a bee hive. It can be arranged so readily 

 with one or more frames from a full hive, that all who wish 

 can have one. One comb the size that I use, and a part 

 of a swarm, will exhibit all the phenomena of a full hive. 

 If several frames are used, they may be arranged accord- 

 ing to fancy or convenience, one above another, or some 



