bee-keeper's manual. 203 



sary, to carry that management into successful opera- 

 tion, when the cost and trouble of obtaining them is not 

 of the least account. 



EUROPEAN HIVES. 



The majority of bee-keepers of the old world still use 

 the common straw hive, in consequence of its cheap- 

 ness, or from prejudice. I say the majority — this in- 

 cludes the cottagers, who compose a majority of those 

 who keep bees in the old world. The hives used by 

 the many scientific apiarians of England, France and 

 Germany, are mostly of wood, and of every shape and 

 size that can be imagined. The box-hives, as repre- 

 sented at page 141, are in use to a considerable exent — 

 that is, the same principle ; but no two bee-keepers unite 

 on the same dimensions ! Huish adheres to straw hives 

 still, with a cover on top to be raised, and having cross- 

 bars to his hives, as represented at page 138; he cuts 

 out one or two leaves or combs when the bees can spare 

 them, and in -t-his manner takes all the surplus honey 

 that the bees can afford. I consider this method unwor- 

 thy of notice, except to show the folly of men at this late 

 day, in thus adhering to a custom that is founded in 

 ignorance and prejudice. 



Of all the various styles of hives used in England, and 

 on the continent, I find none that I can recommend to 

 the bee-keeping community. There is the same de- 

 sire for experiment and novelty, exhibited there, that 

 is manifested here. Occasionally a hive is brought 

 forth as doing wonders; but a few years' experience 



