REQUISITES OF A COMPLETE HITE. 
95 
CHAPTER VIII. 
REQUISITES OF A COMPLETE HIVE. 
In this chapter, I shall enumerate certain advantages 
which seem essential to the idea of a complete hive. In- 
stead of disparaging other hives, I prefer inviting the 
attention of bee-keepers to the importance of these 
requisites ; some of which, I believe, are contained in no 
hive but my own. If, after careful scrutiny, they commend 
themselves to the judgment of practical cultivators, they 
will serve to test the comparative merits of the various 
hives in common use. 
1. A complete hive should give the Apiarian such perfect 
control of all the combs, that they may be easily taken 
out without cutting them, or enraging the bees. 
2. It should permit all necessary operations to be per- 
formed without hurting or killing a single bee. 
Most hives are so constructed, that they cannot be used 
without injuring or destroying some of the bees; and the 
destruction of even a few, materially increases the difficulty 
of managing them. 
3. It should afford suitable protection against extremes 
of heat and cold, sudden changes of temperature, and 
the injurious effects of dampness. 
The interior of a hive should be dry in Winter, and 
free in Summer from a pent and almost suffocating heat. 
4. It should permit every desirable operation to be 
performed, without exciting the anger of the bees. 
5. Not one unnecessary motion should be required ot 
a single bee. 
