SHAPE OF HIVES. 431 



It is instructive to see how the very first departure from 

 the olden way, proves the truth, in bee-cuhure at least, of 

 the hackneyed quotation, 



" A little learning is a dangerous thing ; 

 Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring." 



Even so simple an improvement as the use of top boxes, will, 

 in the hands of most bee-keepers, eventually cause the ruin 

 of their Apiaries. Taking it for granted, that bees will 

 never fill these boxes, until their main hive is well provis- 

 ioned, in years when the latter part of the season is very 

 unfavorable, they often remove the honey which is absolutely 

 essential to the life of their bees. Although the owner of 

 a patent hive, I would again and again endeavor to impress 

 upon all who cannot or will not study the habits of bees, 

 the wisdom of confining themselves to the simple box. 

 If they are too humane to destroy their bees, let them subdue 

 them,-by the use of smoke, and cut out from the hives vvhat 

 honey they can spare. 



It would seem from .Aristotle that in his time hives were 

 thus deprived of their surplus stores.* Killing bees for their 

 honey, was one of the appropriate inventions of the dark 

 ages, when the human family had lost, in Apiarian pursuits, 

 as well as in other things, the skill and knowledge of the 

 past. 



The very low and broad square hive, has the least to re- 

 commend it ; it gives, to be sure, a larger amount of top 

 surface, in proportion to its internal capacity, than any other 

 shape, but it necessarily prevents the bees from concentrating 

 their heat to the best advantage, and is of all other forms the 



• Aristotle says that when smoked for this purpose, " they are greatly 

 disturbed, and completely gorge themselves with honey !" He did 

 not, however, notice the connection between this cramming and their 

 subsequent docility. 



