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84 STORIFYING AND SUBTENDED HIVES. 
hived in one box, and if it is a swarm of usual size, it is set on the top 
of another one, and when both are. filled another box is added. 
The boxes composing this hive are generally eleven or twelve 
inches square in the clear, and eight or nine inches deep. There are 
different sizes and forms, however, combining the same principle, but 
are managed differently by different persons: some super* them, 
while others nadirt them; the former mode generally produces the 
purest honey, as the queen is not as liable to ascend into the supers, 
and deposit eggs there, as she is to descend into the box below. In 
both cases, however, much depends upon the strength or population 
of the colony: if it is a weak swarm, she will not be liable to go 
into either; if a strong one, she will sometimes do so. The com- 
munication from one box to the other through the top is often made 
by boring from three to five auger holes at different points, and 
sometimes a hole three or four inches square is cut, and a slide fitted 
to cut off communication at pleasure. The door in the front of each 
box opens to observe through a pane of glass the operations of the 
bees, and the amount of honey they have in store. In my opin- 
ion, it would be better if this door was in the -rear of the hive, as 
it would then afford the keeper an opportunity to approach it with 
much less exposure to the bees, but where the hives are placed 
against a fence or building it could not be done; though this I would 
never recommend, as it usually affords a harbor for moths, spiders, 
ants, and other insects, and the apiarian has not as good an opportu- 
nity to destroy them as if he could have access on both sides of the 
hives. 
Hives also with supers, capable of containing from twenty to forty 
pounds of honey, have been used in many parts of the United States 
with tolerable good success, and I consider them far preferable to the 
common hive. But the bees will not as readily enter these supers 
and commence their labors (unless guide-combs are placed in them) 
as they will smaller boxes,.and wher they do commence the queen is 
more liable to ascend and deposit eggs there than in smaller boxes, 
especially if the colony is a strong and populous one. 
* Supering is placing the empty box above the stock. 
+ Nadiring under the stock. 
