84 



THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE. 



Over the bars should be laid a piece of thin gauze, and upon it 

 the top or covering board of the box, which may have a circular 

 hole in the middle of it, securely stopped by a good cork bung, 



to be removed for the purpose of placing a small bell glass over 

 the hole as occasion requires. 



" The side boxes may be made and used of different sizes if 

 desired, and to contain from 350 to 1100 cubic inches each. If 

 the smaller sizes are adopted, the entrance to them must be 

 along the hollow part of the bottom board ; but it would be con- 

 sidered more complete to have the side boxes of the same width 

 and depth as the centre one, and to have them well fitted and 

 secured together during the honey-gathering season. The en- 

 trance from the centre to the side boxes may then extend along 

 the under edges of each of them from front to back, and about 

 three-eighths to one-half an inch in depth : there should also be 

 a perpendicular one three inches long, and half an inch wide, up 

 the centre of the end of each of the boxes, the upper part of 

 which should reach to within three inches of the top of the box 

 inside. 



"The use of bars to the top of boxes is frequently of much 

 service to the apiarian, as he can thereby occasionally remove a 

 few of the old combs from the box, and can, at any time, have 

 an opportunity of examining the state of the interior of the 

 boxes. Before using a new box with bars, as above, a piece of 

 pure and clean brood comb should be neatly fixed to each, or 

 every alternate bar, which may be readily accomplished by the 

 assistance of a long and smooth piece of heated iron — the comb 

 being rubbed for a few seconds on the iron, should immediately 

 be applied to the bar, and will then, in a short time, firmly ad- 

 here to it. 



" The use of hives of straw is by many persons still continued 

 anu approve! ; and I have no doubt, that when they arc pro- 



