CHAPTER II 
Hives 
Tue question of the hive is, of course, the all- 
important one to the bee-keeper; upon it 
depends in very large measure the success or 
non-success of his enterprise. To the beginner, 
especially, it is a matter for serious consider- 
ation, one not to be dealt with in any haphazard 
fashion. There are so many forms and varieties 
of hive on the market to-day that the novice, 
who perhaps started out with the idea that 
a hive was merely ‘‘a hive—any one would 
do—and the bees would accomplish the rest,”’ 
is puzzled as to how to make a selection. As 
a general recommendation in this direction I 
would say, select the one that is least complicated 
and easiest to clean. Simplicity in working, 
combined with efficiency in its purpose, is a 
sure and safe standard to apply when selecting 
a hive. It is as well for the beginner to try 
one or two varieties, so that he may find out 
by experience which is better suited to his 
particular district, and the most convenient to 
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