32 STRAW HIVES.* 



CHAP. VII. 

 ON THE FORMATION OF STRAW HIVES. 



OTRAW is the beft material for hives, aS 

 beft prote&ing the bees in the extremes of 

 cold and heat, and alfo generally eafieft 

 to be procured. Where it is not fo, rufhes, 

 wicker-work plaftered over, or fedges, muft 

 be fubftituted. 



Of ftraw, unthrajhea ?hye is preferable, as 

 thrafhing ihivers the ftraw, and makes it 

 rough and fhaggy, whiqh the bees with 

 much labour are obliged to gnaw off. My 

 hive-maker laid the ftraw in a chaff box, 

 and fo readily cut off the ears. 



The plan I propofe is, three hives 

 to each flock. The fize I have found mod 

 convenient is that of half a bufhel : larger 

 are very inconvenient to manage ; while thefe, 

 by Jlorifying) give ample room for all that 

 the bees can want, at the fame time admit- 

 ting triplets to be taken off the fooner. 



They are to be nine inches high, and 



twelve 



