5(5 
MINER S ORNAMENTAL BEE HOUSE. 
another, net their owner seven dollars per annum. 
Every stock or hive may not produce that amount 
in honey ; bat, counting the natural increase, at 
the lowest possible value, and the sum with in- 
crease and honey, is more than made up, with cor- 
rect management. Here arises the question, what 
is correct management 1 I have only to say, that I 
think, that I shall soon lay before the public, a 
work, in my Manual, that will throw all the light 
on the subject that can be desired ; and perhaps 
others have said the same before me ; yet, u a tree 
is known by its fruits," and I will leave the mat- 
ter with those who are familiar with my essays, 
published in the American Agriculturist, during 
1846-7-8, to say, whether a work of merit may, or 
may not, be expected. 
The hives represented below, are a style that 
I have recently constructed, of great beauty, and 
Fig. 7. 
merit. This hive is intended to be ornamen- 
tal, or otherwise, as the apiarian may choose ; yet 
the embellishments cost but a trifle, and in its orna- 
mental state, no other hive can begin to compare 
with its general beauty of proportions and architec- 
ture. The cut gives but an imperfect illustration 
of its true character. 
This bee house, as the reader will observe, is 
octangular in its shape ; that is, having eight sides ; 
and consequently, affording room for eight hives. 
These hives rest upon an octangular stand within 
the posts, or columns, that support the roof of the 
house. The full particulars of the manner of ar- 
ranging these hives, and the management of bees 
therein, together with directions in regard to the 
construction of the bee house, must be reserv- 
ed for my Manual, since the space allotted me 
will not admit of such an elucidation. I will how- 
ever, say, that no other method of resting hives 
is superior to the above-mentioned plan, as I 
shall illustrate the same, in my treatise on the bee. 
I shall also give clear, and I trust conclusive rea- 
sons, for the use of open bee houses, instead of 
those that are enclosed. 
In the foregoing cut, it will be perceived, that the 
roof projects over the posts. The object of this 
is, to shade the hives in the middle of the day, 
when the rays of the sun are the most powerful ; 
and also, as a protection against storms, which are 
; all that bees require. 
The cost of such a bee house will be from $30 
! to $50, according to the labor bestowed on the or- 
| namental portion thereof. It can be built very 
j plain for a small sum; or a large sum may be ex- 
j pended to the improvement of its beauty. Every 
particular pertaining to this structure, 
will be fully discussed in my Man- 
ual ; and various other original de- 
signs for bee houses, of a more eco- 
nomical nature, as well as numer- 
ous beautiful engravings of differ- 
ent bee hives, invented, or improved 
by me ; also cuts of various hives in 
use in this country and Europe; to- 
gether with several scenes as they ac- 
tually occur, during the interesting 
season of swarming, of peculiar in- 
terest, will appear in my Manual, 
making it, with its beautiful typogra- 
phical execution, the most valuable 
treatise on the honey bee that has 
ever appeared. No money has been 
spared in its production. The en- 
gravings, which will be very nume- 
rous, are being executed by Mr. J. D. 
Felter, No. 140 Nassau street, whose 
skill in wood engraving is unrivalled; 
and although much has been promis- 
ed in regard to the high character of 
this work, yet half has not been told. 
Instead of 250 pages promised in the 
prospectus, I think that I shall have 
to make it 300, 12mo., since much 
valuable and highly-important matter 
would be excluded, in a less number 
of pages ; and I am resolved to make 
this work, the clearest, the most ample, 
and the most instructive and interesting 
treatise of the age. 
The above engraving shows a gentleman, who 
is expatiating on the beauties of his apiary, or 
perhaps the singular habits of the bee, in its do- 
mestic economy. The lady on his right is his 
consort, who, with their little son, has just returned 
from a promenade. The little boy is calling his 
mother's attention to the affright of the scampering 
little dog, that intruded too near to the hives, to 
suit the wary bees ; and he seems to pay rather 
dearly for his temerity. The gentleman, intent on 
the wonderful economy of his bees, disregards the 
cry of ; ' Cato," whose nose smarting from the 
effects of sundry stings, runs with full speed to 
a place of safety. For hives, see advertisement 
at page 70. T. B. Miner. 
New York, Jan., 1849. 
■ia.filter-sz 
