LUCK AND NOTIONS. 
49 
across it to prevent warping, will do very well. A roof 
shaped cover made of two boards, using triangular shaped 
boards at the ends, on the under side, to nail to, is a good 
plan. Those who think they must have bee-houses can de- 
vise them to suit their fancy. Some make them with tiers 
one above another on both sides of a room, leaving a walk 
between them, and have it convenient for shutting up for win- 
ter. But for most bee-keepers they will not pay expenses. 
A JOURNAL. 
Use a pocket memorandum book for a bee-journal. Have 
each bee-hive numbered. It would be convenient to have 
labels of tin or wood with numbers on them to be tacked on 
the hives. Have a page in the journal corresponding with 
the number of each hive, in which may be recorded the con- 
dition of the hive at any time : when it was hived — when it 
gave off a swarm, and how often — how much surplus honey 
it furnished — whether it was strong or weak, etc. Such a 
book is convenient for reference. 
LUCK AND NOTIONS. 
Some tell us "they will buy a hive of bees and sec what 
sort of Inch they will have.” Others “somehow never could 
have any luclc, and so gave their bees into their wives’ care 
to see if they would do any better.” I have known such ex- 
periments to work well. There is a common opinion that "if 
a person sells bees they will sell their luck.” (There is danger 
of this if he always sells his best.) Others will not give them 
away for the same reason. 
Some, to make the thing entirely sure, will neither sell or 
give, away, but will allow one to come and steal one away, 
leaving some money instead of it on the stand, and afterwards 
conclude from the smallness of the amount of money left that 
perhaps this plan is no better than either of the others. To 
trade sheep for bees is considered more favorable to success. 
"When a member of the family dies, you must go and whis- 
per it to the bees, or they will do no good afterwards.” 
"When the owner dies they will dwindle to nothing.” lean 
certify to this being sometimes the case. 
3 
