300 WmTEEING BEES. 



STRAW HIVES. 



There are some bee-keepers who from some cause, can- 

 not be induced to make a room or cellar available, and 

 others who prefer to leave them on their summer stands. 

 To such I would recommend the straw hive. 



Not old fashioned conical shaped hives ; although the 

 objection to it, is simply the want of adaptation to im- 

 proved bee-culture. We have all heard of the great 

 success in wintering in " the old-fashioned straw hive," 

 fifty or a hundred years ago. They were discarded, it is 

 said on account of harboring the moth-worm, and in- 

 convenience. Mr. Langstroth says : " Straw hives are 

 warm in winter and cool in summer ;" and again, "Hives 

 made of wood are at the present time fast superseding 

 all others." ISTotwith standing this, I shall err greatly in 

 my judgment if straw as a material for hives, does not 

 in a great measure regain its former position in public 

 favor. We now have etraw hives of convenient shape, 

 some of them covered by a patent, but that is chiefly on 

 the manner of holding the straw. The proper degrees 

 of heat and cold when most desirable, are great ad- 

 vantages, and can be obtained on principles long ago 

 recognized. 



PHILOSOPHY. 



It is found that solid bodies are much better conductors 

 of heat than porous ones. To illustrate: put on a 

 rubber coat, or a woolen one, one impervious to air and 

 water, the other freely admitting both; one conducts 

 away the heat and retains the moisture, while the other 

 retains the warmth, and allows the insensible perspira- 

 -tion to leave the body. A linen or cotton garment is a 

 much better conductor of heat, than one made of wool. 

 Perhaps this is owing to the fact that the fibres lie more 

 compactly. 



