118 AUSTRALASIAN 
The first, and it will be found the principal point to be 
observed, is to use none but thoroughly seasoned wood. Of 
course all know that unseasoned wood will shrink and twist 
after it is made up; but some inexperienced person may Say, 
“Well, what does it matter in a beehive, supposing it 1s a little 
twisted or a quarter of an inch larger or smaller than the 
prescribed size?” Let me remind those inclined to look at 
the matter in this light, that a complete hive is composed of a 
number of movable parts, each part of which ought to fit in 
its place like a piece of cabinet work, or the hive, as a whole, 
cannot give satisfaction. It is absolutely necessary that every 
movable part of a complete hive should be interchangeable with 
like parts in all other hives throughout the apiary, let them 
number two or two thousand ; they must therefore be exactly 
alike, and not liable in the slightest degree to alteration by 
twisting or shrinking. Even to be within an eighth of an inch 
is not near enough—they should be exact. It is not always 
possible to purchase seasoned wood when required, and as an 
extra price is charged for it when it can be got, it is just as 
well for the bee-keeper, if he has the convenience, to get the 
driest timber available, and season it himself. Some place 
under cover can nearly always be found to stow a few boards 
to season. So that the rain is kept out, the more open the 
place is to the wind the better. The autumn is a good time of 
the year to purchase timber for the purpose, as dry boards can 
be got, and there is enough time for seasoning purposes before 
it will be necessary to make them up. Care must be taken, 
when stacking boards, to put thin strips of wood between each 
two to allow the air to circulate freely around them. I have 
dwelt on this matter at length, knowing by experience how 
important it is. 
The thickness of the timber used principally throughout the 
hive is seven-eighths of an inch ; and as one-inch boards—the 
nearest size most easily obtained—when well seasoned are a 
sixteenth less, there is just sufficient substance left to allow of 
a smooth surface being put on one side with a plane. The 
body of the hive, with which I will start, is 10 in. deep, and 
takes exactly 5 ft. 11 in. of board to form the two sides and 
two ends; so that boards 12 ft. x 1 ft. will cut two bodies 
allowing two inches for saw cuts and waste. I would advise 
getting 1 ft. boards, as the exact 10 in. can be cut after they 
