HIVES. 231 



too high, less box honey is obtained ; but if too shallow, it not 

 only takes more workers to cover the lower part of the combs, 

 to protect them from the moth, and keep up the required hea« 

 for breeding, but the winter stores are scattered over so large a 

 surface, and of so little depth, that although the heat arising 

 from the swarm will keep the honey warm directly above the 

 bees, they soon consume that to the top of the hive. "When 

 this happens in very cold weather, if there are no holes through 

 the combs, the bees die of starvation, as it is certain death foi 

 them to venture around the edge of the frosty combs by which 

 they are surrounded. Hence, swarms often perish with ample 

 stores in the hive. For these evident reasons, we would recommend 

 that frames be long and shallow in warm climates, and deeper and 

 shorter according to climate, approximating to a square where it becomes 

 very cold. 



More box honey can be secured with shallow frames, both because 

 there is more surface for boxes, and because bees store more readily near 

 thebroodnest. But this advantage is counterbalanced in cold climates 

 by the greater depth for wintering, the greater ease of extracting, and 

 the greater depth for boxes beside the broodnest when shorter and 

 deeper frames are used. 



" TIIE ADVANTAGES SECURED IN TITE CONSTRUCTION OF HIVES." 



Centuries ago, intelligent men were convinced that, if complete 

 control of the bees and combs could be obtained, bee-keeping 

 must become a sure and systematized business, both pleasant and 

 profitable. The practice of murdering whole colonies, with the 

 brimstone match, for their stores, was gradually abandoned by 

 ths introduction of surplus honey boxes, with glass p^es in 



