HIVES. 27 
become satisfied that a hive can be made that will not interfere with 
their natural instinct, and at the same time far better adapted to their 
wants at all times, and also much more convenient for the bee-master 
to manage than any of the common hives now in use, 
But, as I have previously stated, the good or ill success attendant 
on any hive, depends in a good degree on the care and attention paid 
them while occupied by the bees; for while, with judicious and care- 
ful management, bees will in many instances thrive and-afford a good 
supply of honey in almost any form of hive; so in the reverse will 
they, if occupying the best hive ever invented by man, if neglected 
or improperly managed, in many instances fail to remunerate their 
keeper to any reasonable extent, and not unfrequently, for want of 
a little attention and care, fall victims to moths, robbers, or some other 
enemy. Hence no person should ever engage in the culture of the 
bee with hopes of success, unless he expects to bestow some care and 
attention upon them in summer and fall, and in winter and spring. 
Asin agricultural and mechanical pursuits, so in the culture of the 
honey-bee ; much that is valuable to the bee-keeper may be learned from 
the experience of others. And notwithstanding bee-keepers vary so ma- 
terially on some points, there are others on which a majority agree ; and 
if a person will take the trouble to read and compare the opinions of dif- 
ferent authors, and study and observe the operations of his bees, he may 
soon be able to decide what mode of management to adopt in order 
to insure success, and make the business both profitable and interest- 
ing. But in order to do this, he must have some form of hive differ- 
ent from the old hive, that affords no means of obpenving their opera- 
tions or studying their habits and wants. 
All admit that too much or too little room is injurious to the wel- 
fare of the bees, and that the nearer the hive corresponds in size to 
the actual wants of the colony, at all times and seasons of the year, 
the more prosperous they will prove—and for the following reasons, 
viz. :— : 
ist. The less unoccupied room there isin a hive, the less danger 
there will always be from the attacks of moths. 
2d. That a large and populous family of bees do actually need more 
room than a small one. 
