THE APIARY. 
383 
hive where it stands above a hole in the quilt, or 
for the skep by being fixed upon its crown, where 
long screws will hold into the straw with a tenacity 
few would expect. The leak of heated air between 
the wood and the irregularities of the skep must be 
stopped by some luting, and a ring of dough, placed 
around the feed-hole before the stage is pressed into 
place, is all-sufficient. The shovel {sh, Fig. 93) is 
used in putting the filled syrup bottle into position. 
The shovel is placed over the mouth of the latter^ 
and the whole inverted as at A, Fig. 94, when not a 
drop of syrup escapes — />., if the bottle was fully 
filled. The elasticity of the air in a half filled bottle 
will cause a little leaking. Standing the shovel over 
the hole in the feeding-stage, the bottle is held bv 
one hand, and the shovel quickly slid away from under 
it by the other, when, as before, the syrup is taken 
by the bees thrusting their proboscides up through 
the perforations. In lieu of the shovel, although with 
less convenience, a bricklayer’s trowel, or even a 
piece of tin turned up at one end, may be used. 
It is most important that no bees be admitted from 
other hives to regale themselves around the bottle. 
Our hive covers should be made, if possible, proof 
against them ; but in cases where these are wanting, 
a calico bag, large enough to slip over the feeding- 
bottle easily, with a child’s large bead necklace 
(costing id.) sewn into its hem, so fits down to the 
hive top that no inquiring bee can steal a single 
sip. Many would prefer a wooden box-like case, 
coverinor the bottle, but it does not do the work 
better, while it is more costly and more cumbrous. 
