STRAW HIVES. 35 



of the hive, and half an inch thick, free 

 from knobs. Seven fpaces or openings are 

 to be cut, b, b, b, b, b, b, b ; each exactly half 

 an inch wide; the length of the three inner- 

 mod, eleven inches ; the two next, nine ; and 

 the two outermoft, fix inches. The carpen- 

 ter muft be attentive not to deviate from 

 thefe directions in the fmalleft degree, as a 

 trifling neglect will render the whole ufelefs. 



In cafe boards of a proper width are not 

 to be had, one ten inches wide may be fub- 

 ftituted, braiding circular pieces on the fides 

 after the top is cut out, to fill up the defi- 

 ciency. Round the edges a hoop of tin, or 

 flight ozier, muft be tacked to ftrengthen it, 

 and prevent its fplitting. A long braid or 

 peg mould pafs through the fore and hind 

 parts, and enter the edge of the hive, to keep 

 the top from being difplaced ; taking care 

 that the heads of the braids are driven rather 

 below the furface of the wood. 



A cheaper top may be made of narrow 

 flips of wood, which I name bars, fix in 

 number (pi. 1, fig. 3. a, a, a, a, a, a); de- 

 figned to be laid acrofs the top of the hive, at 

 half an inch diftance from each other; the 

 J) 2 two 



