Sf) THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE. 



after they have fairly taken possession of it, it must be properly 

 Ventilated by a hole previously formed on the top, and covered 

 •with a piece of perforated zinc, keeping the temperature between 

 65° and 75° of Fahrenheit's thermometer. 



" The three hives should have a well made wooden covering 

 over them, with a span-shaped* roof to carry off the wet, &c, 

 and an opening at the back for the purpose of examining the 

 progress of the bees ; the outer box should be well painted and 

 waterproofed, and will greatly assist in regulating the tempera- 

 ture of the hives, and in protecting them from extreme cold, 

 dampness, and sunshine. 



" I would recommend a set of two or three of the improved 

 collateral boxes, which may be made of well-seasoned boards, 

 about ten and a half inches cube, inside measure, and to be 

 neatly fitted together, with convenience for ventilation and in- 

 spection, and they must also have a wooden covering over them, 

 with an opening at the back, similar to the one above mentioned. 

 " The outer box should be one inch, or one and a half inch 

 wider inside than the outer dimensions of the interior boxes. 



" By constructing boxes on the above plan, the swarming of 

 the bees may be, by judicious management, for a time prevented, 

 but it is not recommended that that propensity should be en- 

 tirely defeated, as a swarm may be occasionally taken from col- 

 lateral boxes with advantage to the swarm and to the stock hive. 

 " By proper attention, large quantities of pure honey may be 

 obtained by the above system of management. Last year, a 

 friend in this vicinity obtained 109, 97, and 89 pounds of pure 

 honeycomb from three sets of Nutt's collateral boxes." 



Mr. Taylor, in his " Beekeeper's Manual," speaks as follows of 

 bee-boxes : — 



<c It matters not much of what wood the boxes are made, pro- 

 vided it is sound, thoroughly seasoned, and well put together. 

 Different opinions are entertained as to the best size of bee- 

 boxes, but I think that much must depend on the number of 

 bees they are to contain, and on the honey locality ; there must 

 also be a reference to the proposed mode of working them, for, 

 where no swarming is permitted, a larger hive may be advan- 

 tageously used. A good size is twelve inches square, and nine 

 inches deep withinside, the thickness throughout being not less 

 than an inch. The top of the box ought to project on all sides 

 nearly three-quarters of an inch, for better protection and ap- 



