280 HIVE OF SIR CHARLES WHITWORTH. 



supported by pieces of wood or bearers e e which are nailed 

 from post to post at each end. They are likewise to be well 

 nailed to the frame to keep them from sinking with the 

 weight of the boxes : / represents the roof which projects 

 backwards about seven or eight inches beyond the boxes, to 

 shelter them from the rain. 



Niches or holes must be cut in the frame over against 

 each mouth or entrance into the boxes, at h h. h h. h h. in 

 the preceding figure. These niches must be four inches 

 long, and under each a small piece of wood must be nailed 

 for the bees to alight upon. 



The morning or evening sun will shine upon one or both 

 ends of the frame, let its aspect be what it will ; but it may 

 be prevented from overheating the boxes by a loose board set 

 up between the posts, and fastened on by two or three pegs. 



THE HIVE OF SIR CHARLES WHITWORTH. 



This hive may be considered in some respects as a modi- 

 fication of the pyramidal hive of Ducouedic, but that which 

 is frequently called an improvement turns out to be the very 

 reverse. The hive of Sir Charles Whitworth is placed on a 

 platform fixed on a pedestal which is driven into the ground, 

 and of a strength sufficient to bear the weight of the plat- 

 form and the hive. This pedestal is driven in with such 

 force, that the most violent winds cannot overthrow it. The 

 upper part of it is raised only about two feet from the level 

 of the ground. 



The platform is about two feet square, diagonally measured, 

 and two inches thick. Under the platform, and exactly in the 

 middle, is a square excavation, in which the pedestal is inserted. 



On this platform the hive is placed, of an octagonal form, 

 being one foot eight inches in diameter, and ten inches high, 

 with four windows of clear glass, and protected by four 

 outside shutters, which may be opened or shut, accordingly 

 as the works of the bees are to be inspected. 



