248 HIVE OF GELIEU. 



of these boards is attached to each half of the hive by 

 small nails, in order to close the side of the hive, which 

 has been left open by the act of sawing. By this means, 

 each division of the hive, which has been sawed, assumes the 

 shape of a small box open at the bottom, such as the hive 

 itself exhibited before it was sawed through, with this dif- 

 ference, that the boards which have been joined come down 

 only as low as the entrance; so that there remains about an 

 inch between the platform and the board. Consequently, these 

 two half hives being joined together, the bees have a free 

 communication from one to the other by the opening which 

 is left by the board below, and by that which has been made 

 in the middle. 



In order to form a complete hive of the two halves, four 

 strong pegs are put into each division of the hive, and so 

 driven in that they project outside about an inch and a half; 

 two of them are placed in the lid, one in the front above the 

 entrance, and another at the back; and on placing these 

 pegs two inches in the edge of the boards, which without 

 that precaution might be apt to split, particular attention 

 must be paid that they fit exactly on each side ; that is, that 

 they should be exactly opposite to each other, in order that 

 they be firmly tied with osier twigs. These two demi hives 

 being united and attached to each other, form one hive as 

 solid as it was before it was sawed through. The slight 

 boards which were added, being set back to back, form only 

 one wall of separation, which deprives not the bees of the 

 facility of communication with the demi hives, because they 

 can enter them either by the opening in the middle, in the 

 same manner as by that which is below. As it is easy to be 

 perceived, these hives are double, and may be easily divided 

 or reunited. When they are kept in a united state, the two 

 halves make but one hive. The bees have then two points 

 of communication, one by the centre and the other under- 

 neath. Not having any idea of this trick upon them, they 



