bee-keepee's manual. 169 



position. The distance that a floor-board is hung from 

 the hive is three-eighths of an inch, in all cases. 



It will be observed, that in the foregoing cut of the sus- 

 pended hives, no door or window appears in front. In 

 this case, the door of the chamber is supposed to be on 

 the back of the hive, and that of the glass window below, 

 on the same side. If there be a passage-way back of 

 suspended hives, it is best to have these things in the 

 rear. For the use of the thorough, practical apiarian, 

 the glass windows in the body, or lower section of the 

 hive, are of little value ; but for the amateur apiarian, 

 let them be inserted, if he is willing to pay for the extra 

 expense that it will incur, of about fifty cents each, or 

 perhaps less. 



Every hive, whether suspended or otherwise, would 

 be benefitted by having a floor-board on the inclined- 

 plane principle; yet it is attended with some trouble 

 to have such, when the hives rest on a bench or stool. 

 I have, however, obviated that difficulty, in a new hive 

 th^t I have recently constructed, denominated the 

 "Equilateral Bee- Hive," the engraving of which ap- 

 pears in this work. It is effected by beveling off" the 

 floor-board on every side, forming a slight cone in the 

 centre, with the inclined sides diverging therefrom. 



