APIARIES. 



523 



the native heath, wild thyme, &c, are 

 later in coming into bloom. To under- 



Fig. 739. 



stand Mr Munn's theory, it will he neces- 

 sary to peruse his very sensible and 

 unprejudiced book. 



The hive in common use is too well 

 known to need any description. It is, 

 perhaps, as ill adapted to the wants and 

 habits of the insects as it is unpicturesque 

 and devoid of ornament as a garden ap- 

 pendage. How such a form came to be 

 adopted it is not easy to say, but that it 

 has existed long is quite clear ; for we 

 find it in an improved form described by 

 Hartlib in 1655. This improvement con- 

 sists of the addition of a cap or smaller 

 hive set on the top, with a view to deprive 

 the swarm of the honey which they may 

 make in it without disturbing the whole. 



Nutfs hives are represented in fig. 740. — 

 These hives consist of a series of three 



Fig. 740. 



a co s 



boxes placed together collaterally, with an 

 entrance from the centre box to the side 

 ones, which entrance can be opened or 

 shut by means of a sheet of tin which can 

 be pushed backwards or drawn forwards. 

 The centre box is the place of residence 

 and breeding of the queen, and is never 

 disturbed. As the bees require more 

 room, one or both of the sliding sheets of 

 tin are withdrawn, and the bees take 

 possession of one or both of the side boxes. 

 In general one is occupied first, and, 

 when full, they are admitted into the 

 other. The honey is also taken from these 

 side boxes one after the other. Under- 

 neath are drawers for feeding ; and on 

 the top is an octagon cover, under which 

 bell glasses are often placed ; and the bees 

 having access to them through holes in the 

 top of the centre box, a supply from time 

 to time of honey is thus also obtained. 



" This bee-hive obviates the necessity 

 of destroying the bees to obtain their 

 honey; and the facts stated by the in- 

 ventor, as to the success of numerous 

 experiments made of his plan, tend to 

 show that, besides the recommendation 

 of humanity, it has in its favour also that 

 of practical utility — the produce of honey 

 being considerably increased, as well as 

 the quality most essentially improved. 



" A conspicuous feature in the manage- 

 ment of bees, according to this system, 

 consists of judiciously regulating the heat 

 of the hive, by means of ventilation, so as 

 to avoid to the bees the necessity of swarm- 

 ing, at the same time obliging these in- 

 dustrious creatures to exchange a store- 

 room filled with honey for an empty one 

 immediately connected with it." 



Taylor's improved collateral ventilating hive. 

 — Without departing from the essentials of 

 Nutt's system, Taylor "has altered the 

 form and arrangement of the boxes, and 

 made a set complete as a whole, without 

 the usual necessity for an additional shed 

 to cover over it, which detracts altogether 

 from any picturesque appearance it might 

 otherwise possess." 



In regard to size, Mr Taylor observes — 

 " Circumstances must determine it ac- 

 cording to locality; for what is suitable 

 in one place will not do in all. The di- 

 mensions I like," he continues, " for the 

 largest sized pavilion, are 13 inches in 

 front, 14 inches backwards, and 10 or 11 

 inches deep. The side boxes should be 



