bee-keefkr's manual. 119 



size of hives. 



The first desideratum with the apiarian is, the proper 

 dimensions of hives. As the builder in rearing his edi- 

 fice, sees that its foundation is firmly laid, that the super- 

 structure may not be impaired; so does the apiarian 

 look to the correct size of his bee-hives, that his subse- 

 quent labors may not prove in vain, in the management 

 and culture of his bees. 



Notwithstanding the enquiry has been abroad through- 

 out all Christendom during centuries, in regard to the 

 true shape and size of bee-hives ; yet we stand in the 

 same position that we did a hundred years ago, relative 

 to this important question. Every bee-keeper has his 

 size and shape, and no one is able to set the question at 

 rest. We find hives from the little box of six inches 

 square, made expressly for very small swarms, up to 

 almost any dimensions, even to the size of a barrel. 

 There seems to be a perfect chaos existing in the minds 

 of men on this subject, or rather, that every man's views 

 on this subject, are so vague and undefined, that a cha- 

 otic confusion is the general state of public sentiment 

 on this very important branch of bee-culture. 



Now, can any one reasonably suppose that there is 

 no solution to this query ? Does any one presume, that 

 a small hive or a large hive ; a short hive or a long hive, 

 is all the same ; making no difference at all in the gene- 

 ral prosperity of the apiary 1 No one can thus think, for 

 it is contrary to the general principles of common s,ense ; 

 yet bee-keepers, to a great extent, act on this principle. 



