140 miner's AMERICAN 



to, and also their distances from each other ; as any de- 

 viations in this respect, would throw the combs wrong, 

 particularly if that deviation gave an excess of room. 

 It would be better, therefore, for them to be somewhat 

 within the rule, than to exceed it by ever so littlej for 

 whenever the bees evince a disposition to depart from 

 the prescribed dimensions, its tendency is generally to 

 make the combs approximate. This has induced me to 

 have my boxes surmounted by bars varying a little in 

 their relative distance, thus : the three centre bars are 

 ..placed at the distance of only seven-sixteenths of an 

 inch from each other, while the rest gradually recede 

 from that distance, so that the two last inter-spaces on 

 either side of the box, are nine-sixteenths of an inch in 

 width. The same precision must be observed in the 

 length of the bars, as it is of great importance to have 

 them indiscriminately applicable to every box; and in 

 case the joiner should exceed the specified dimensions 

 of a box, the extra space must be thrown to its sides." 



After these bars are adjusted, a cover is placed on the 

 hive, of the usual thickness, and screwed down, so as to 

 admit of being taken off at any time. Through this 

 cover, a hole may be made some three inches square, and 

 a super placed thereon, as in other cases. 



He claims this advantage in this hive over ordinary 

 ones ; that at any time a leaf of comb may be withdrawn, 

 and in this manner the surplus honey is obtained, or 

 from the supers as may be desirable. Let those try this 

 hive who choose, it is not very expensive ; but I must 

 say, that I can see nothing valuable about it. 



