41 
to be made gradually, and never more than an inch per an- 
num. This succession of gradation might proceed far; 
however, it must have some bound, which my researches — 
have not enabled me to discover. 
Panniers of straw, broom, or osier, ought to be used 
only to receive swarms. And to form the Scottish, and 
more particularly, the pyramidal hive, boxes made of pine 
plank, or other resinous wood, are best; and those made 
in the most simple manner, are excellent. 
CHAPTER XIII. 
OF THE PLACING AND REMOVING OF BOXES. 
When it is proposed to change a simple hive into a 
Scottish—before sunrise or after sunset, the simple hive 
must be gently raised from the bench, which (bench) must 
be wiped clean with a cloth or sponge, and a square box 
with perfect joints must be placed on it, and on the top of 
this box must be set the simple hive, taking care that the 
pannier containing the bees be well adjusted to the box on’ ~ 
which it is placed, and that all the rules mentioned, rela- 
tive to the dimensions of boxes, and the strength of the 
colony, be strictly observed. 
In the spring of the following year, to change this into 
a pyramidal hive, the pannier and box of the Scottish hive 
must be gently raised, without separating them. The bench 
must be cleaned, and on it an empty box placed, and on 
the top of that must be set the Scottish hive. 
These three stages—the straw hive, and the two boxes, 
the first of which changed the simple hive into a Scottish, 
and the second, which changed the Scottish into a pyra- ~ 
midal hive,—ought to be perfectly united, and appear as 
if they formed only one single hive. Neither a bee, nor 
the smallest insect, should find a passage between the three” 
stages: there should be but one small opening on the 
bench, for the ingress and egress of the bees. . 
When the upper story of a pyramidal hive is to be re- 
moved, great precaution must be observed, to prevent the 
derangement of the under boxes, and particularly not to 
disturb the bees. As soon as the uppermost box is re- 
. p2 
