14 
THE HIVE AND HONET-BEE. 
points in the physiology of the honey-bee, together with 
much valuable information never before communicated to 
the public. 
It is now more than twenty years since I turned my 
attention to the keeping of bees. The state of my health 
of late years having compelled me to live much in the 
open air, I have devoted a large portion of my time to a 
minute investigation of their habits, as well as to a series 
of careful experiments in the construction and manage¬ 
ment of hives. 
Very early in my Apiarian studies I constructed a hive 
on the plan of the celebrated Huber; and by verifying 
some of his most valuable discoveries became convinced 
that the prejudices existing against him were entirely 
unfounded. Believing that his discoveries laid the founda¬ 
tion for a more profitable system of bee-keeping, I began 
tc experiment with hives of various construction. 
Though the result of these investigations fell far short 
of my expectations, some of these hives now contain 
vigorous stocks fourteen years old, which without feeding 
have endured all the vicissitudes of some of the worst 
seasons ever known for bees. 
While I felt confident that my hive possessed valuable 
peculiarities, I still found myself unable to remedy many 
ol the perplexing casualties to which bee-keeping is liable; 
and became convinced that no hive could do this, unless 
it gave the complete control of the combs , so that any or 
all of them might be removed at pleasure. The use of the 
Iluber hive had satisfied me, that with proper precautions 
the combs might be removed without enraging the bees, 
and that these insects were capable of being tamed to a 
surprising degree. Without a knowledge of these facts, 
I should have regarded a hive permitting the removal of 
the combs, as quite too dangerous for practical use At 
