THE EVOLUTION OF THE BEE-HIVE. 223 



precisely the same purpose, and is more easily made; or it may 

 ■even be flat; but in this latter case it does not throw off the water 

 -as in either of the two former styles. Whatever may be the design 

 chosen, it should be of a size to allow eaves of sufficient width to 

 •carry the drip well from the sides of the hive. If a flat cover is 

 perfectly water-tight it is equal to either of the two other kinds 

 mentioned, with the exception that there is no cool current of air 

 immediately passing over the top of the frames. It is both easier 

 to make and to handle. It can be overlaid with tin or painted, 

 •and whilst the paint is wet a piece of calico put over it, and another 

 ■coat of paint on the top of that. The paint should be rather 

 thicker than is usually used. If occasionally painted it will last 

 for years, and remain water-proof to the end. A bit of ruberoid, 

 •a new material used for roofing purposes, is one of the best water- 

 proof coverings that can be used, and is very cheap. 



5. Quilt of American Cloth. — The more flexible or leathery the 

 material the better. Of late there has been much discussion on its 

 merits or demerits, some affirming that the bees quickly gnaw 

 through it, others that it creates dampness within the hive. Where 

 there is an imperfect knowledge of how to use this quilt, both argu- 

 ing, undoubtedly, from experience, if I may be permitted to use 

 an illogical phrase, both were right and both were wrong — right in 

 that the glazed side is for summer use, when, the bees having 

 a sufficiency of storage room, they would not waste their labour 

 in trying to perforate the leathery side, it being too smooth for 

 their mandibles to work upon — i.e., if a material of good substance 

 has been used, but I will not argue the point if a cheap, flimsy 

 ■article has been chosen. I have quilts that have been in use for 

 about four years, and fairly good to-day, only they are rather 

 thickly covered with bee glue. In the winter, the glazed side being 

 non-absorptive, the stratum of cold air without the hive coming in 

 •contact with warm air within, condensation is the result, and pro- 

 duces those globules of moisture seen on the glazed surface in winter 

 months. Wrong, in using the woolly side next to the bees in 

 summer, as they object to a fabric of that nature so near to them. 

 They are always labouring to get rid of it ; hence they quickly 

 gnaw through it. The others who argue that it creates dampness, 

 use the glazed sides next to the bees. They therefore, in winter 

 months, find dampness on the underside of the quilt next to the 

 bees. Under these circumstances both were rig"ht, and both were 

 wrong ; but if the glazed side had been placed next to the bees 



