174 miner's AMERICAN 



The dimensions of Townly's hive are, for the lower 

 section, where the bees have their permanent abode, about 

 ten hj fourteen inches ; and since I discussed the size of 

 hives in the Am. Agrt., in 1846-7, I learn that he has 

 constructed some of his hives nearer my size, about one 

 foot square. The chamber, or super, projects over the 

 main body of the hive, on every side, some three inches, 

 being raised to admit the boxes. It turns on hinges 

 placed on one side. The communication from the body 

 of the hive to the boxes in the super is by holes some- 

 vsfhat similar to my own method. At the botttomof the 

 hive is a screen made of wire, which is represented as 

 affording fresh air, and at the same time, protecting the 

 hive against the bee-moth. About an inch from the 

 bottom of the hive a tube is inserted, about six inches 

 long, with a bore about an inch and a half in diameter, 

 through which the bees enter and depart. Near the 

 top of the hive, in front, another similar tube is placed, 

 for the ingress and egress of the family. 



Now, in the first place, if he still makes his hives 10 

 by 14 inches, as at first, I consider that size as entirely 

 too small. The solid contents of such a hive is much 

 less than a hive 12 by 12 in., because \he, fourteen inches 

 is the depth, not the breadth of the hive. In the next 

 place, I condemn his wire screen as ruinous, rather than 

 beneficial, to the bees ; at least, doing no good at all. 

 The only way to ventilate hives is by giving ingress and 

 egress on every side of the hive, as I have shown in the 

 suspended hives, before illustrated. 



Again, the upper tube is downright ruin to any 



