432 SHAPE OF HIVES. 



worst for winter use. In very warm countries, it might, 

 however, be used to considerable advantage. 



A hive long from front to rear, and moderately lovf and 

 narrow, seems, on the whole, to unite the most advantages. 

 I am indebted to Mr. M. Quinby, of St. Johnsville, New 

 York, for some valuable suggestions as to the peculiar ad- 

 vantatres he has derived from hives of this form. He thinks, 

 from his experience, that bees will winter as well in them, 

 as in the tall hives ; giving as a reason, that when the combs 

 are built from front to rear, the brood is kept near the en- 

 trance and the honey stored in the back end of the hive. In 

 Winter the bees, receding from the entrance, must draw 

 back among their stores ; just as they draw up among them, 

 vidien, in the tall hives, they ascend to t-he. top. 



Such a hive, indeed, resembles a tall one, laid upon its 

 side, and while affording ample top surface for storing surplus 

 honey, it also facilitates very greatly the easy handling of 

 frames, besides diminishing their number, and the cost of their 

 construction. 



I recommend that hives constructed in this way, be, in the 

 clear, at least twenty-four inches from front to rear ; twelve 

 from side to side ; and ten in height. There should be eight 

 frames, running from front to rear, each having a partition 

 so adjusted, that the bees may pass from one comb to 

 another, without being chilled in winter. If this division 

 strip is made so as to allow about two-thirds of the frame for 

 breeding, the back part will usually contain pure honey, 

 which may at any time be cut out, without at all mutilating 

 the brood comb. 



I have a hive of this pattern in operation, and thus far am 

 so highly pleased with it, that I anticipate a decided gain 

 from its use, over any other mode of construction. If this 

 style of hives is adopted, I should always recommend that they 



