REQUISITES OP A COMPLETE HIVE. 137 



Requisites of a Complete Hive. 



280. 1. A complete hive should give the Apiarist such 

 perfect control of all the combs, that they may be easily 

 taken out without cutting them, or exciting the anger of the 

 bees. 



2. It should permit all necessary operations to be performed 

 without hurting or killing a single bee. 



Some hives are so constructed, that they cannot be used 

 without injuring or destroying some of the bees; and the 

 destruction of even a few materially increases the difficulty 

 of managing them (399). 



3. It should afford suitable protection against extremes 

 of heat and cold, sudden changes of temperature, and the in- 

 jurious effects of dampness. 



The interior of a hive should be dry in Winter, and free 

 in Summer from a pent and suffocating heat. 



4. Not one unnecessary motion should be required of a 

 single bee. 



As the honey-harvest, in most locations, is of short con- 

 tinuance, all the arrangements of the hive should facilitate, 

 to the utmost, the work of the busy gatherers. Hives which 

 compel them to travel with their heavy burdens through 

 densely crowded combs, are very objectionable. Bees instead 

 of forcing their way through thick clusters, must easily pass 

 into the top surplus honey-boxes of the hives, from any comb 

 in the hive, and into every part, without traveling much over 

 the combs. 



5. It should be capable of being readily adjusted to the 

 wants of either large or small colonies. 



6. It should allow every good piece of worker-comb to be 

 given to the bees, instead of melting it into wax, and should 

 permit of the use of comb-foundation (674). 



7. It should prevent the over-production of drones, by 

 permitting the removal of drone-comb' from the hive. 



A hive containing too much comb suitable only for storing 

 honey, or raising drones, cannot be expected to prosper. 



