b50 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



" The area, including the air-chamber, is now to be covered with 

 pieces of four-inch scantling, placed radiating from the centre, as 

 nearly as practicable at regular distances apart, to serve as a plat- 

 form on which the lower tier of hives is to be placed. The scant- 

 ling should.be cut of unequal lengths, and placed end to end, four 

 inches apart, so as to leave interstices for the free circulation of 

 air ; and where required, as the space widens towards the circum- 

 'ference, additional pieces are to be laid in, so that theiives may- 

 be set firm and level. On this platform, the hives are to be built 

 up in tiers, so that the clamp, when completed, shall present the 

 form of a pyramid. Thus, the lower tier may consist of four 

 ranges, of four hives each ; the second, of three ranges, of three 

 hives each ; and the third, of two ranges, of two hives each. The 

 fourth, or apex, however, must be formed of two hives, instead of 

 one, for reasons which will hereafter appear (Pi. XXI., Fig. 68). 

 The whole will thus form a four-sided pyramid, consisting of 

 thirty-one hives, which, if Dzierzon's double hives be used, will 

 contain sixty-two colonies, in a. comparatively small space. The 

 oblong clamp (PI. XXI., Fig. 70), is constructed on similar princi- 

 ples, with the requisite variation in shape. 



" These hives, which are placed on the platform directly over the 

 pit, or air-chamber, must be set six inches apart, so that a con- 

 tinuous funnel, or direct air-passage, may be formed from the 

 centre of the air-chamber below, to the apex of the clamp ; and 

 on the opposite fronts of the two uppermost hives, is to be placed 

 a kind of chimney (see p. 351), made of four pieces of board, eight 

 inches broad, and thirty inches long, having a movable cap, with 

 a suitable slope, to prevent the entrance of rain. Holes are to be 

 made in the sides of the chimney, below the cap, to allow the 

 upward passage of air from the interior of the clamp. The rest 

 of the hives may be placed closer together, though it is advanta- 

 geous that they should not touch each other, so as to obstruct cir- 

 culation in the interior, as it is important that the proprietor 

 should be able to regulate the internal temperature uniformly. 

 Very great exactness in arranging the hives, is, however, not 

 requi.'iTe. It is essential only that they be set firm and level, so 

 a.s to constitute a regular pyramid. Care must also be taken, not 



