274 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



I get out for each mat two strips of soft wood, one- 

 half inch wide, fths thick, the length to suit the 

 depth of the mat required; two strips of leather, 

 duck, drilling, or any strong cloth, one-half or one 

 inch, and double it. Take clean, straight straw of 

 any kind most convenient (either rye or wheat is 

 best), cut it in lengths to suit the width of the hive ; 

 ours is thirteen inches inside. Lay down the strips 

 of wood (on iron bars, if possible,) about nine inches 

 apart. Place your straw across them to the depth of 

 one and a half or two inches, and put the strips of 

 leather or cloth immediately above the strips of 

 wood; tack them through the wood with six ounce 

 tacks, very near the ends. Draw the strips tight and 

 tack them in the same manner near the other end. 

 Be careful to adjust the straw square across the 

 strips, and of an equal thickness from one end to the 

 other. Take twenty ounce tacks, drive one through 

 the centre of each strip, clinching on the iron under- 

 neath the strip of wood. Divide the spaces again 

 about in the centres, and tack through, clinching 

 every time until there is a tack to about every one 

 and a fourth inches in each strip. Cut the ends of 

 the straw square with large shears, or with a hatchet 

 on a block ; trim off any loose straws. In this way 

 you can make a mat almost as stiff as a board, and 

 one that will stand almost any amount of knocking 

 about; being so firm they are not objectionable to 

 the bees. I prefer this mode of making mats, but 

 there are other ways quite as convenient. 



