HIVES. 169 



much heat is lost by absorption through the glass 

 sides and top. It is best, therefore, to replace the 

 frames and their tenants, early in the autumn, in the 

 ordinary wooden hives. 



Much discussion has taken place among apiarians 

 as to the merits of bee-houses. Those who advocate 

 their use do so on the following grounds : Firstly, 

 the protection afforded by a permanent building to 

 contain the stocks, secures them from dangers of 

 severe storms of wind, hail, rain, and snow. The 

 first kind of tempest is apt to overthrow hives ; the 

 second to terrify the bees by the violence of the 

 impact of the ice-drops ; the third to saturate the 

 floor-boards, and even to penetrate the top coverings ; 

 and the last will sometimes choke up the entrance- 

 holes, and cause the suffocation of the bees. 

 Secondly, for manipulating purposes in all weathers 

 the shelter of a bee-house is very convenient, beside 

 diminishing the danger of chilling the brood under 

 examination. Thirdly, hives under cover of a roof 

 are less affected by sun and moisture, and last 

 longer without requiring paint, than if exposed 

 to all weathers. 



Those who advocate the placing of each hive on a 

 separate stand in the open air, allege the following 

 objections to bee-houses : Firstly, that of expense. 

 Secondly, that they form a shelter for mice, moths, 

 spiders, &c. Thirdly, that they promote dampness. 

 Fourthly, that they encourage robbing by the bees. 

 Fifthly, that they are inconvenient for manipulating, 

 by causing disturbance in neighbouring hives while 

 operations are going on. Sixthly, that they tend 

 to the loss of young queens returning from their 



