98 KEQTJISITES OF A GOOD HIVE. 



CHAPTER VII. 



On the Advantages which ought to be found in a Good Hive, 



In this Chapter, I shall enumerate certain very desirablCf 

 if not necessary qualities of a good hive. Having neither 

 the taste nor the time for the invidious work of disparaging 

 other hives, I prefer invititig the attention of bee-keepers to 

 the importance of these requisites ; some of which, I believe, 

 are contained in no hive but my own. Let them be most 

 carefully examined, and if found to commend themselves to 

 the enlightened judgment of cultivators, they will serve to 

 test the comparative merits of the various kinds of hives in 

 common use. 



1. A good hive should give the Apiarian the perfect con- 

 trol of all the combs ; so that any of them may be easily 

 taken out, without cutting them, or enraging the bees. 



This advantage is fully possessed by no hive, except my 

 own ; although it forms the very foundation of the most 

 profitable system of bee culture ; for unless the combs are 

 at the entire command of the Apiarian, he can have no 

 effectual control over his bees, but must be almost entirely 

 dependent upon all their caprices. 



2. It should permit all necessary operations to be perform- 

 ed without hurting or killing a single bee. 



Most hives are so constructed that it is impossible to use 

 them, without at times injuring or destroying some of the 

 bees; The mere destruction of a few bees, would not, 

 except on the score of humanity, be of much consequence, 

 if it did not very materially increase the difficulty of mana- 

 ging them. Bees remember injuries done to any of their 

 number, for some time, and generally find an opportunity 

 to avenge them. 



