248 AUSTRALASIAN 



VENTILATION. 



A certain amount of ventilation is required during the winter 

 months to prevent moisture condensing within the hive. Mould 

 showing on any of the combs is a sign of insufficient ventilation. 

 With a hole bored in each end of the cover, and such mats as 

 I have recommended, together with a contracted space suitable 

 to the strength of the colony, there need be no fear of bad 

 results under ordinary circumstances. 



CHAFF-HIVES. 



Hives made with double walls, the space between (about 2in. 

 wide) being filled with chaff, cork-dust, or some such material, 

 are frequently used in England, the Northern States of America, 

 and in some of the colder parts of the European continent. 

 Some of our New Zealand bee-keepers recommend their use in 

 the southern parts of the colony; but I doubt very much that ' 

 there is any part of the Australasian colonies so cold as to require 

 the use of chaff-hives for the safe wintering of bees. Mr. T. G. 

 Brickell, of Otago, has had some in use, and speaks very 

 favourably of them. In response to a request to furnish me 

 with a description of his way of making them, he very kindly 

 sent me the following and a photograph of one, from which the 

 engraving has been made. 



"TO MAKE A CHAFF-HIVE. 



' ' Both outside and inside walls are made of half -inch stuff, planed 

 on one side, and mine is made to take the Langstroth frame, to which 

 the following dimensions apply : For the inside end walls two pieces 

 15Jin. long, 8|in. wide are cheeked, Jin. deep, 14£in. between the 

 shoulders ; on bottom edge of one piece, an equal distance from each 

 end, cut out a piece 8in. long, fin. deep for entrance. Cut two pieces, 

 18} by 8|in. for the sides. Nail together, and fix on the bottom. 



" For outside end walls cut two pieces, 19Jby 10|in.,and two pieces, 

 24J by lOJin. for sides. Nail the sides into the ends, and cut in centre 

 of one end a slot for entrance 8 Jin. from top, 8in. wide, fin. deep to 

 and correspond with that cut in the inner end. Two battens, 2 by ljin. 

 19Jin. long, are nailed across the bottom, projecting 2in. on either 

 side ; slip the outside case over the inside one, so that the bottom edge 

 is half an inch below the battens, and level with the second and lower 

 bottom when screwed on, taking care that the space between the two 

 boxes is equal all round. Cut pieces 4in. wide, planed to the necessary 

 bevel, and fix them fair on the upper edge of the cases — mitred at 

 corners. Two pieces of tin, 14J by ljin., turned up Jin. on one edge, 



