214 AUSTRALIAN BEE LORE AND BEE CULTURE- 



incline plane, so that all moisture runs away from the hive. This 

 formation also protects the bees against high winds. In this res- 

 pect the concrete floor is far above all others. 



51. A complete hive should be protected against the des- 

 tructive ravages of mice in winter. 



Mice do not appear to trouble bees in this colony to the ex- 

 tent they seem to both in Europe and America. Perhaps the im- 

 provements in the bee entrance to the hives has much to do with 

 it. Entrances now are made long and narrow — a little more than 

 bee space ; thus, a mouse would find a difficulty in obtaining in- 

 gress other than gnawing his way in, when the noise made thereby 

 would surely rouse the anger of the bees. 



5'2. It should permit bees to pass over their combs in the 

 freest manner both in summer and winter. 



In Langstroth's original pattern, the combs were arranged 

 parallel with the entrance or front of the hive. Although this 

 may facilitate the manipulation, freedom of ingress and egress 

 was not so easy as in the modern hive, in which the combs run 

 fore and aft, or parallel with the sides of the hive. 



53. It should permit the honey, after the gathering season 

 is over to be concentrated, where the bees will most 

 need it. 



No honey should be allowed to remain in the supers during 

 winter, and all empty combs should be removed and the winter's 

 supply of honey, when the bees are put up for the season, should 

 be placed as near to the young brood as possible ; and if there be 

 not sufficient bees and honey to fill the hive, a division board 

 should be placed so as to keep the whole as compact as possible. 



54. It should permit a generous supply of honey to be 

 left in the fall of the year in the hive without detriment 

 either to the bees or the owner. 



From 30 lb. to 40 lb. is sufficient for a fairly good colony. 

 If more is left it is not wasted, but rather an advantage. It will 

 be wanted in the spring for brood raising. 



55. It should permit the apiarian to remove such combs as 



cannot be protected by the bees, to a place of safety. 



Spare, or over-plus combs, should be placed in a zinc-lined 

 case, the lid made almost air-tight and occasionally fumigated 



