bek-keeper's manual. 173 



of his hive ; for the reason, that they who have them in 

 use would not be benefitted thereby; and they who 

 have not used them, had better not see them. I under- 

 stand that Mr. Townly has recently removed to the 

 west, since the merits of his hives have become generally 

 understood in this vicinity. This is, indeed, strange! 

 Many a tyro in apiarian science will now seek to throw 

 away a V on a hive worse than useless, and will find no 

 one to accommodate him. But not so with our western 

 apiarians ; they will see hives paraded on the walks of 

 some western city, with tumblers nicely adjusted in the 

 chambers, a part filled with beautiful combs, and a part 

 unfilled, containing these words written thereon, " Not 

 to he filled," as if to show some mystic charm that keeps 

 the bees in abeyance ; filling such only as contain no 

 spell-bound mandate ! But, alas ! " Othello's occupa- 

 tion's gone." The schoolmaster is abroad. Men's 

 eyes are now open, and no longer can humbug stalk 

 among us without being denuded of its assumed qual- 

 ities. 



In sober reality, I do not think Mr. Townly's hives 

 of any value, except for kindling-wood. This language 

 may appear too severe ; yet I but "speak the words of 

 truth with soberness." If any gentleman would make me 

 a present of a dozen of these hives, and a ten dollar 

 lank hill with each, and bind me to use them in my 

 apiary, I would not accept of the donation. 



After this exordium, I presume that the reader will 

 expect to hear my objections to these hives ; and I will 

 state them as briefly as possible. 



