38 



THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE. 



each frame on the other ; we can thus open any particular leaf 

 "without meddling with the rest. In taking honey from this hive, 

 the bee-master has the whole interior completely under his eye, 

 and at his disposal, and can choose what combs best suit his pur- 

 pose, both as to quantity and quality ; taking care, however, to 

 do so only at such periods as will leave the bees time to replenish 

 the vacancy before the termination of the honey season. It is 

 also well adapted for artificial swarming. By separating the hive 

 into halves, the honey, brood-combs, and bees will, generally 

 speaking, be equally divided ; and by supplying each half with 

 four empty frames, we shall have two hives, one half empty, 

 equal in number of bees, of brood, and even of stores. One of 

 the new hives will possess the queen ; and if the operation has 

 been performed at the proper time — that is to say, a week or ten 

 days before the period of natural swarming — the probability is, 

 there will be a roj'al brood coming forward in the other ; at all 

 events, there will be plenty of eggs and larvae of the proper age 

 for forming an artificial queen." 



Cheapness, and an obstinate adhesion to the customs of our 

 forefathers, induce straw hives still to be used by many. Mr. 

 Briggs has already shown how they may, when necessarily or 

 optionally employed, be rendered almost as productive as boxes. 

 I add the following from Mr. Taylor, who objects to the use of 

 sticks or cross-pieces, sometimes employed for the purpose of sup- 

 porting the combs : — 



" The sticks are only an annoyance to the bees ; and there is 

 little fear of the combs falling, except in very deep hives ; at any 

 rate, it may be prevented by contracting the lower part a little. 

 The best way of doing this is, by working a wooden hoop inside 

 the bottom band of the hive, as recommended by Dr. Bevan, 

 who says, *■ It should be perforated through its whole course' 



