STRAW HIVES. 33 



I 

 twelve wide, in the clear, on the infide, i. e. 



exclufive of the top, (pi. 2, fig. 3.) The 

 body is to have no ftraw top fixed, or worked 

 to it, as in common, but is to be a feparate 

 piece. The body of the hive, therefore, re- 

 fembles a broad hoop; and, like that, muft be 

 perpendicular, or ftraight down ; and not 

 one part /welling, or being wider than ano- 

 ther. 



The ftraw cover is to be made quite flat \ 

 like a round mat, but wide enough to extend 

 an inch beyond the edge of the hive. There 

 needs only one cover to three hives. The 

 greateft proof of the maker's fkill will con- 

 fift in his exactly following the prefcribed 

 dimenfions, and in the evennefs of his work; 

 particularly in both edges, that they may 

 admit one hive being fet on another, with- 

 out any chafms, and that promifcuoujly, or 

 hab nab. 



In one of the edges a diftance of full three 

 inches is to be left free of binding, for a 

 door-way. But a more proper one may be 

 formed by a fmall piece of wood, four or 

 five inches long, in which a door-way is to 

 be cut, of three inches long, and three- eighths 

 D of 



