_ The Form of the Boxes, &c. 14% 
An ‘oftagon, being neareft to a fphere, is the beft 
form ; ‘fince : as the Bees in winter lie in a round body in. 
or near the center of the hive, a due heat is conveyed to 
all the out-parts, and the honey kept from candying, 
which in a fquare would not be fo effeCtually prevented, 
and is many times prejudicial to the Bees, and fome- 
times proves their ruin. Thus much for the materials, 
The dimenfions of my boxes, and which I would on 
fo long a trial recommend to others, are in depth ten. 
inches the infide, the top-board a fullinch; and the 
breadth within twelve or fourteen inches. © 
Any gentleman, who chufes boxes of a larger extent, 
many order the depth a full foot, and the breadth within 
fixteen inches, not forgetting to make the houfe propor- 
tionable. 
I have tried boxes containing a bufhel and more, but 
found them not to anfwer the defign like thofe of a lefler 
fize. The larger are not fo eafily managed ; they are 
much longer in filling ; fo that it is later e’er you come 
to reap the fruits of their labours ; the firft year you muft 
not expect it, perhaps not the fecond neither, nor wilt 
the honey be fo good and fine. 
The beft and pureft honey is what is gathered the 
firft five or fix weeks, which is worth 1s. a pound, 
And in boxes of lefs dimenfions, (planted as hereafter 
direéted) provided the feafon be at all favourable, you 
may take in a month, or little more, a box full of the 
fineft honey; and in an extraordinary feafon the fame 
colony will fpare you two boxes, referving what will be 
fufficient for their own fupport. 
For 
