248 AUSTRALASIAN 
VENTILATION. 
A certain amount of ventilation is required during the winter 
months to prevent moisture condensing within the hive. Mould 
showing on any of the combs is a sign of insufficient ventilation. 
With a hole bored in each end of the cover, and such mats as 
I have recommended, together with a contracted space suitable 
to the strength of the colony, there need be no fear of bad 
results under ordinary circumstances. 
CHAFF-HIVES. 
Hives made with double walls, the space between (about 2in. 
wide) being filled with chaff, cork-dust, or some such material, 
are frequently used in England, the Northern States of America, 
and in some of the colder parts of the European continent. 
Some of our New Zealand bee-keepers recommend their use in 
the southern parts of the colony; but I doubt very much that 
there is any part of the Australasian colonies so cold as to require 
the use of chaff-hives for the safe wintering of bees. Mr. T. G. 
Brickell, of Otago, has had some in use, and speaks very 
favourably of them. In response to a request to furnish me 
with a description of his way of making them, he very kindly 
sent me the following and a photograph of one, from which the 
engraving has been made. 
‘‘TO MAKE A CHAFF-HIVE. 
_** Both outside and inside walls are made of half-inch stuff, planed 
on one side, and mine is made to take the Langstroth frame, to which 
the following dimensions apply : For the inside end walls two pieces 
15%in. long, 83in. wide are checked, din. deep, 144in. between the 
shoulders ; on bottom edge of one piece, an equal distance from each 
end, cut out a piece Sin. long, gin. deep for entrance. Cut two pieces, 
18% by 83in. for the sides. Nail together, and fix on the bottom. 
‘* For outside end walls cut two pieces, 194 by 104in.,and two pieces, 
243 by 103in. for sides. Nail the sides into the ends, and cut in centre 
of one end a slot for entrance Shin. from top, Sin. wide, sin. deep to 
and correspond with that cut in the inner end. Two battens, 2 by 13in. 
193in. long, are nailed across the bottom, projecting 2in. on either 
side ; slip the outside case over the inside one, so that the bottom edge 
is half an inch below the battens, and level with the second and lower 
bottom when screwed on, taking care that the space between thetwo 
boxes is equal all round. Cut pieces 4in. wide, planed to the necessary 
bevel, and fix them fair on the upper edge of the cases—mitred at 
corners. Two pieces of tin, 14} by 14in., turned up qin. on one edge, 
