50 
HIVES. 
more room bees have to enter boxes, the less reluc- 
tance is manifested in commencing their work in 
them ; but here is another extreme to be avoided : 
when the holes are much larger, or more of them, or 
even one very large one, the queen is very apt to go 
into the boxes and deposit her eggs, which renders the 
comb tough, dark, <ke., also bee-bread is stored near 
the brood. Dr. Bevan’s and Miner’s cross-bar hives 
' are objectionable on this account, they offer too free 
access to the boxes; we want all the room that will 
answer, and no more. 
A SUGGESTION. 
Mr. Miner’s cross-bar hive is intended to make the 
bees construct all straight combs, and probably will 
do it. But the disadvantage of bee-bread and brood 
in the boxes will not be made up by straight combs. 
For the benefit of those who have been made to be- 
lieve straight combs all important, and perhaps have 
jiurehased the right to make the hive, and had some 
constructed, and have found bee-bread in their surplus 
honey, I would suggest an improvement, (that is, if 
it is thought the straight combs will pay. -If you have 
not the right for the cross-bar hive, and you wish to 
use it, 1 would say, buy the right, and remove all 
grounds of complaint with him.) Put in the bars and 
hive your bees as he directs. After all the combs are 
started, instead of setting the open bottom boxes 
(which are also unsuitable for sending to market) di- 
rectly on the bars as he recommends, take off the 
cloth, and with screws fasten on a top with ten holes, 
