112 BEES AND BEE-KEEPTNG.. 



CHAPTER VII. 



BEE HIVES. 



Much has been said and written on this subject; 

 many humbugs have been gotten up (whether with 

 honest intentions or not), and palmed off on bee- 

 keepers, who, as a general thing, were profoundly 

 ignorant of what constituted a practical and at the 

 same time a hive suited to the natural habits of their 

 faithful little servants, and consequently they were 

 easily imposed on. One patent bee hive has followed 

 another in rapid succession, many of which have 

 proved to be worthless, and some persons have lost 

 in these speculations, yet notwithstanding all this, 

 the great mass of the people have been benefited; 

 not by these losses, it is true ; but these enterprises, 

 together with other things, have set the people to 

 investigating the subject of bee-keeping, and to ac- 

 quire a more correct knowledge of their nature and 

 habits, and having learned something reliable in this 

 direction, they are better able to appreciate their 

 value and the profits that might be derived from 

 them, if properly managed, and also to understand 

 the requisites of a good hive. Years ago, the only 

 method practiced of getting honey was by digging a 

 pit, setting a brimstone match in this, over which a 

 hive of devoted bees was placed, and the fumes of 

 the burning match would soon kill the entire colony. 

 But this barbarous practice, I am happy to say, has 



