134. Direéions how to manage Bees, Sc. 
If lL were intending to purchafe a hive isi 
May, and came to an apiary where there were 
four hives, to make choice of one, I would de- 
fire four men to fit down for ten minutes, one 
at each hive, and count the number of loaded 
bees that entered into their refpective hives in 
that fpace of time ; and according to their re- 
port, | would pitch upon the hive that was moft 
frequented during that interval, provided it 
had honey, and were not one of the oldeft. 
CHAP. 
peded in their labours; but this fhould only be done in propor- 
tion to the number of bees ina hive. During March and April, 
they fhould be very little, as warmnefs is health to bees, and far- 
thers their hatching greatly. A numerous hive fhould, in May, 
have an entry two inches wide, and half an inch deep, whilea 
hive, that has not perhaps half the number of bees, fhould have 
its entry only one inch wide and fcarcely half aninch deep. But 
in the midft of f{ummer, when the weather is warm, and the bees . 
numerous, the entries of all the hives fhould be widened, as the 
bees ought to have both fufficient room to go out and in, and as 
much air as poflible. In fuch hot weather, the entries might 
even be enlarged to three inches in widenefs, and one inch in 
height. The method of enlarging or ftraitening the ventries of 
_ hives is quite fimple. Pieces of wood, all of one fize outwardly, 
but with holes cut in the under part of them, of the various di- 
menfions above defcribed, might be made and kept ready at all 
times, to be exchanged with each other, according as the feafon 
requires, or the Bee-mafter wifhes to widen or to  ftraiten his 
hives ; but indeed a little plafter lime will ftraiten or widen an 
entry in {pring and fummer, with very little trouble. 
