310 
BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 
would cause the metal to bulge badly, unless several 
staples {st, st,) were soldered into the sides. While 
the cistern is under construction, a piece of plank, lin. 
thick, is passed between the inner and outer skins, 
two holes are bored opposite to each other, and a 
bell-wire passed through and fastened, by solder, as 
indicated. An outer casing of wood is most desirable, 
and this should permit of packing {p) with cork-dust, 
charcoal-dust, or sawdust, so as to prevent, to the 
uttermost, needless leak of heat. The case has a 
hole beneath, 5in. or bin. in diameter, exposing the 
cistern, and here a truncated cone of metal is soldered 
to husband the heat of the lamp. Legs are added to 
bring it to a convenient height, and to permit of 
variations in the height of the lamp (/), which stands 
on blocks {bl, bl). 
The water required for a nursery capable of receiving 
ten standard frames, would be about three gallons, or 
3 olb. ; and so great is the specific heat of water, that 
this amount, protected as described, and warmly covered 
above by quilting, would cool with extreme slowness 
in the absence of the lamp, while its temperature 
would be equally long in rising if the lamp power were 
in excess of that required. Gas may be used ; but if a 
lamp be employed, it should be of small size,* its 
reservoir yet being large enough to hold a thirty hours’ 
supply. To start, fill with hot water, cover carefully, 
and adjust your thermometer [tJi), either placing it 
inside, or passing it through a hole in the cover, retain- 
ing, by a fixed circular disc (rt’), only sufficient of the 
* I find my nursery is amply heated, even in cold •^^eather, by the 
smallest round-wicked paraffin lamp obtainable. 
