MANUAL 01' THE APIARY. 257 



Second. The bees are handled in the house, and as they fly at 

 once to the windows, where they can be suffered to escape, 

 they are very easily and safely handled, even with little or no 

 protection. Third. As we can extract, manipulate honey 

 boxes, etc., right in the same house, it is desirable on the 

 score of convenience. Fourth. As the bees are protected 

 froip the sudden rise of the out-door temperature, they will 

 be kept from frequent flights during the cold, forbidding days 

 of fall, winter and spring, and will thus be more secure against 

 spring dwindling. Fifth. As the bees are so independent of 

 out-door heat, because of the thick walls, with intervening 

 air-spaces, they are found less inclined to swarm. Sixth. 

 We can lock our house, and know that thieves cannot steal 

 our hard-earned property. 



The objections to them are : First. The bees leave the 

 hives while being handled, crawl about the house, from which 

 it is difficult to dislodge them, especially the young bees. 

 This objection may disappear with improved houses and prac- 

 tice. Second. In very severe winters, like that of 1874 and 

 . 1875, they may not offer sufficient protection, yet they would 

 be much safer than chaff hives, as there would be many colo- 

 nies all mutually helping each other to maintain the requisite 

 temperature, and the walls might be even thicker than speci- 

 fied above, without any serious inconvenience. Third. Some 

 think it pleasanter and more desirable to handle bees out- 

 doors, where all is unconfined.. Fourth. The cost of the 

 house ; yet this is only for once in a life-time, and saves pro- 

 viding shade, sawdust, packing-boxes, complex hives, etc. 



So, we see the question is too complex to be settled except 

 by careful experiment, and this, too, for a series of years. 

 There are so many now in use in the various States, that the 

 question must soon be settled. I predict that these structures 

 will grow more and more into favor. 



