332 
THE HIVE AND IIONEY-BEE. 
Aseiious disadvantage attaching to all kinds of wooden 
hives, is the ease with which they conduct heat, causing 
them to become cold and damp in Winter, and, if exposed 
to the sun, so hot in Summer as often to melt the combs. 
The Winter inconveniences are greatly increased if the 
hives are well painted, while, if this is neglected, they 
cannot ordinarily be exposed to sun or weather without 
serious injury.* 
To make the movable-comb hives to the best advan- 
tage, the frames at least should be cut out by a circular 
saw, driven by steam, water, or horse-power. In build- 
ings where such saws are used, the frames may be made 
from the small pieces of lumber, seldom of any use, except 
for fuel, and may be packed almost solid in a box, or in a 
hive which will afterwards serve for a pattern. One 
frame in such a box, properly nailed together, will serve 
as a guide for the rest. The other parts of the hive can 
easily and cheaply be made by any one who can handle 
tools, and can never be profitably manufactured to be sent 
far, unless made where lumber is cheap, and the parts 
closely packed, to be put together after reaching their 
destination. 
MOVABLE-COMB OBSERVING HIVES. 
Each comb in these hives is attached to a movable 
frame, and, as both sides admit of inspection, all the won- 
ders of the bee-hive may be exposed to the light of day, 
as well as that of (pp. 23, 1 1 G) lamps and gas. 
In the common observing-hive, experiments are con- 
ducted only by cutting away parts of the comb ; whereas, 
in this, they can be performed by the simple removal of 
a frame ; and if a colony becomes reduced in numbers, it 
* The abundant ventilation now given to my hives, will enable the Apiarian to 
dispense with paint, except on the joints and roofs ; and if the latter are, in 8 u minor, 
covered with straw, battened to them so that the air can circulate under it, they 
may be safely placed in the sun, if not exposed to a close, suffocating heat. 
