288 ADVANTAGES OP THE HUISH HIVE. 



are but very sorry apiarians, and their very mode of dress 

 exposes them to danger, from which the male sex are exempt. 

 We once paid a visit to a lady, residing at West Hill near 

 Wandsworth, who was a real enthusiast in the management 

 of an apiary ; and being present at a particular operation that 

 we were performing on one of her hives, she had, with the 

 view of witnessing the whole of the proceedings, carefully 

 covered her face and arms, considering that she had thereby 

 rendered herself invulnerable to the stings of the infuriated 

 insects. The operation was nearly completed, when on a 

 sudden, our fair assistant threw down the fumigating bellows, 

 which she was holding in her hand, and ran off to the house 

 with all possible speed. We were at a loss to account for 

 the disappearance of our fair friend, but in a short time, the 

 mystery was solved. The insidious bees not finding any 

 part of her frame exposed in which they could inflict their 

 stings, had mischievously crept up her stockings, and having 

 arrived at a vulnerable part, they proceeded immediately 

 to wreak their vengeance in the most summary manner upon 

 the lawless despoiler of their property. 



In regard to the danger of being stung, we consider all 

 hives to stand nearly upon a par ; and it was rather invidious 

 on the part of Mr. Bagster, to attribute to the Huish hive 

 a greater degree of danger than to any other hive, and 

 especially the ladies' safety hive, not one principle of which 

 is founded on good practice, or in unison with the general 

 habits of the bee ; in fact, to give a specification of it would 

 not be attended with any advantage or instruction to the bee 

 master, with the exception that it would furnish to him 

 another proof of the extent, to which the enthusiasm of some 

 apiarians has carried them. 



One of the greatest advantages of the Huish hive is, that a 

 piece of honey comb may be had almost at any time ; and 

 when the bees lie out in clusters, indicating that they are in 

 want of room in the hive, the extraction of the side combs 

 will give them the space required ; a partial harvest of honey 



