200 miner's AMERICAN 



down -to the board upon which the frame stands. If the 

 apiarian choose, he may make any openings for the 

 swarm to enter, that his own judgment may suggest ; 

 for instance, holes may be bored an inch in diameter in 

 the end pieces of the frame, and near the floor of the 

 hive, and when the bees are hived, they can be plugged 

 up or left open. I should leave them open in very warm 

 weather. If it be found that the bees will not readily 

 enter, one door may be opened a few inches, and a cloth 

 thrown over the hive, to extend down to within an inch 

 or two of the bottom ; then the bees will enter, and at 

 evening when they are fully clustered within, the door 

 may be closed. Perhaps the door may have to be closed 

 by degrees, say partly at evening and fully in the morn- 

 ing, in consequence of a portion of the bees clustering 

 along the rabbet, into which the door closes. 



There are many things pertaining to the management 

 of bees, that must ever be treated according to the best 

 of the apiarian's judgment. Every case that may come 

 within the scope of his experience, cannot be anticipated 

 in any work on this subject; therefore, if any one 

 should, at any time, find himself in a dilemma in his 

 management of this insect, and find no especial rule in 

 this Manual for his guidance, let him use the best of 

 his judgment, according to the general principles here 

 laid down. I do not think that anything of a serious 

 nature will ever occur to any one engaged in the cul- 

 ture of the bee, from which I shall be accused of with- 

 holding information, that I ought to have given to the 

 public. That I shall omit some things that would be 



