BEE MANUAL. 129 



in the right position, so that when the tin is on, the outside 

 cases will fit over these tubes, that is, the tin tubes will fit in 

 the holes bored in the bottom of each case. Now if the centre 

 case is nailed to the bottom board, and the side cases fitted 

 over the tubes and hinged on top to the centre one, it will be 

 pretty near complete. It must, of course, be seen that the 

 entrances to each case through the tubes are clear, and that 

 there is no place the bees can get out but through the entrance 

 in the bottom board. We have now only to make a cap to fit 

 over the cases when closed, to darken the interior when not in 

 use, and the hive is complete. 



Every bee-keeper should possess an observatory hive, as it 

 will not only be interesting and instructive to himself, but a 

 source of amusement to his family and friends. To stock it, 

 take an ordinary frame of brood, with the adhering bees and 

 the queen, from a hive and place it in the centre compartment ; a 

 frame of honey and an empty comb or frame of foundation can 

 be put in the outside cases ; close the entrance with perforated 

 zinc or wire cloth ; put on the cap, keep the hive in a cool 

 place, and let it remain closed for 48 hours, when it may be 

 put on its stand and the entrance opened at dusk in the evening. 

 In a week the queen may be removed if it be desired, and the 

 process of queen-rearing be observed. 



TIMBER FOR HIVE-MAKING. 



Soft porous timber is usually recommended as being the best 

 for hives, though it should at the same time be of a tough 

 lasting nature. Wood that is soft and porous is a better non- 

 conductor of heat than hard close-grained wood ; hence hives 

 made of the former give better protection to the bees both in 

 winter and summer than would hives made of the latter kind 

 of wood. It is also preferable to use straight grained timber, 

 more especially for the frames, as being most easily worked 

 and not so likely to twist. - The bottom boards and stands 

 may be made of a harder timber in order the better to with- 

 stand any dampness that may arise from the ground, as these 

 would be the parts of the hive that would be most affected 

 by it. 



PAIKTING HIVES. 



Hives should never be used until they have been painted. 

 They ought to receive three coats to start with. The first coat 



K 



