HIVES. 47 
if we avoid extremes, and give the required room, the 
shape can make but little difference. 
It has been recommended to plane the boards for 
hives, “inside and out;” but bees, when first put into 
such hive, find much difficulty in holding fast until 
they get their combs started, hence this trouble is 
worse than useless. 
DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING HIVES. 
If hives are not desired of the cheapest possible con- 
struction, the outside may be planed and painted; but 
it is doubtful whether strict economy would demand 
it. Yet a painted hive appears so much better, that 
it ought to be done, especially as the paint adds al- 
most enough to its durability to pay the expense. 
The color may be whatever fancy dictates ; the moth 
will not probably be attracted by one color more than 
another. White is affected the least by the sun in 
hot weather. Lime is put on as white-wash, annual- 
ly, by many, as a protection against insects. 
When hives are not painted, the grain should never 
be crosswise, having the width of boards form the 
height ; not that the bees would have any dislike to 
such, but nails will not hold firmly, they draw out in 
a few years. The size, shape, materials, and manner 
of putting together, are now sufficiently understood, 
for what I want. Sticks half an inch in diameter, 
should cross each way through the centre, to help sup- 
port the combs. A hole about an inch diameter in the 
front side, half way to the top, is a great convenience 
for the bees to enter when coming home heavy laden. 
