DETJILS OF THE BEE-FJRMER'S HIVE. 21 



How long will your unpainted hives keep in a condition fit 

 for the stocks ? Perhaps some two years ; whereas our 

 painted hives will wear for ten years, or even longer. 

 Every spring we merely transfer the bars containing 

 the entire stock, with comb, &c. to an empty hive, then 

 scour the inside of the old hive well, with soap and warm 

 water. This is a little trouble, but is well repaid by the 

 healthy hum of our stocks. Then, when the hive is 

 thoroughly dried before the fire or in the sun, but not before, 

 we again place the bees back again in their old home. By 

 this plan we gain an insight into every stock, know its 

 strength and condition, and, as a stitch in time saves nine, 

 we can often avert some threatening disaster. 



Immediately you obtain a new hive give it a good coat 

 of stone-coloured paint, inside and out ; when this is quite dry 

 go over the same ground at least twice, then place it in the 

 sun for a week or two, removing the cover-board ; this will 

 soon take away the peculiar turpentine odour, which, 

 although probably not deleterious to the bees, yet may as well 

 b3 removed before placing any stock in the hive. We 

 then insert the bar-frames, and it is ready for the first 

 sv/arm which issues. 



Always remove the frames to some place of safety 

 v/hilst the hive is being painted. 



Another bit of warning may not here be out of place, 

 because some of our bee-farming friends may not have 

 much time in the busy season to read over our monthly notes, 

 hence the more need of a word of caution in this place. 

 Never after May arrives be without a few hives ; you wdl 

 not find it easy to have them made when a swarm is taking 

 flight. As our American brethren say. Nothing like heim; 

 in readiness. Remember, j/aar stocks will swarm long before 

 your neighbours if you adopt the Bee-Farmer's Hive ; hence 

 your special need of preparation. 



