94 HIVING. 



To prepare hives for the reception of 

 fwarms, the fnags, or the roughnefs of the 

 flraw, mould be clipped off, and rubbed as 

 fmooth as can well be, as this will fave the 

 bees a deal of labour, which they will em- 

 ploy to greater advantage in conftru&ing of 

 combs. 



Boxes mould have all holes and crevices 

 flopped with putty, or other cement, which 

 otherwife the bees mufl do, to exclude air 

 and vermin. 



Spleets, or flicks, are proper to fupport 

 the combs, when extended near the bottom ; 

 but two only are neceffary, and placed 

 thus +, at the height of the fecond round 

 of flraw from the bottom; one from the 

 front to the back^ the other acrofs that > from 

 right to left : for as the combs are nfually 

 built in parallel lines from front to back, 

 each comb, when wrought down, being of 

 confiderable weight, it will have a ready 

 fupport from the fpleet, and which will 

 ferve to faften them alio ; but till they be- 

 come weighty, no fattening but that which 

 the bees themfelves execute, will at all be 

 needful. 



But 



