204 miner's AMERICAN 



consigns it to oblivion. The same spirit is extant there, 

 that in our own country cries " vive le bagatelk ;" and 

 inventors are never at a loss to find a public to fleece of 

 their loose cash, in exchange for halves, not worth the 

 nails that hold them together. 



POLISH HIVES. 



As a matter of curiosity, I will give a brief descrip- 

 tion of the kind of hive used in Russia, Poland, and 

 other adjacent countries. It is made of staves like a 

 churn, being largest at the base. Its length is about two 

 feet, and its breadth at the base about 15 inches. The 

 staves are thick and clumsy, and the dimensions inside 

 are not much over ordinary box-hives. The upper half 

 of the hive is wound closely with rope ; in order to pro- 

 tect it from the heat of the sun and from dampness. A 

 board closes the opening at the top. In the fall of the 

 year, the cutting out of a portion of combs takes place, 

 according to the productiveness of the season. A stave 

 is removed which does not extend beyond the lower 

 coil of rope, and the cottager, with knife in hand, and 

 smoke apparatus convenient, commences operations. 

 When the bees come out rather furiously, a whiff of 

 smoke drives them in again, and in this manner he takes 

 away as much honey as he thinks can be safely spared, 

 and have enough for winter use ; and this method is 

 considered the acme of perfection. 



DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING HIVES. 



Good, sound inch, pine boards, thoroughly seasoned, 



