KEQUISITK3 01' A COMl'LETE HIVE. 183 



vanccs did not allow a close study of the habits of the bee, 

 or permit the needed manipulations, it became necessary to 

 invent a hive whose every comb, and every part, the Apiarist 

 could promptly and easily control ; a hive which, to employ 

 the forcible expression of Rlr. Hamet, could " se dimonter 

 comme un jeu de marionettes;" (be taken to pieces like a 

 puppet-show). 



Requisites op a Complete Hive. 



280. 1. A complete hive should give the Apiarist such 

 perfect control of all the combs, that they may be easily 

 taken out without cutting them, or exciting the anger of the 

 bees. 



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

 formed without hurting or killing a single bee. 



Some hives are so constructed, that they cannot be used 

 without injuring or destroying some of the bees ; and the 

 destruction of even a few materially increases the difficulty 

 of managing them (399). 



3. It should afford suitable protection against extremes 

 of heat and cold, sudden changes of temperature, and the 

 injurious effects of dampness. 



The interior of a hive should be dry in Winter, and free 

 in Summer from a pent and almost suffocating heat. 



4. Not one unnecessary motion should be required of a 

 single bee. 



As the honey-harvest, in most locations, is of short con- 

 tinuance, all the arrangements of the hive should facilitate, 

 to the utmost, the work of the busy gatherers. Hives 

 which compel them to travel with their heavy burdens 

 through densely crowded combs, are very objectionable. 

 Bees instead of forcing their way through thick clusters, 

 must easily pass into the top surplus honey-boxea of tbe 



