June 10. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 
107 
KING’S PATENT SAFETY HIVE. 
My first invention of hives with drawers (an engraving of 
which, and a notice by “ A Country Rector,” appeared in 
No. 180 of The Cottage Gardener), clearly satisfied me 
that this is by far the best method to be adopted for simple 
and easy management, but in making use of these hives, I 
found there needed some improvement to gain the desired 
end—a certainly of obtaining the honey in a pure state, with 
store-room in proportion to the size of the hive, to prevent 
swarming, to make it lhore simple in its management, and at 
the same time to provide means for procuring new combs 
when the old ones should have become injurious to the 
prosperity of the hive. 
To accomplish these objects, I was obliged to alter the 
construction of the hive materially. First, to be certain of 
obtaining pure honey in the drawers, I made them smaller; 
and to prevent swarming with more certainty, I increased 
their number from three to eight, which, on an average, con¬ 
tain 4lbs. each,making store-room for 32lbs. of pure honey; 
and that the drawers might be moved from one part of the 
hive to another, according to the directions given in the 
pamphlet, I changed the entrance to the drawers from the 
side to the bottom; and that I might be certain about its 
preventing swarming, I stocked it with two swarms instead 
of one. Also, that the hive might be kept from observation 
while on trial, I constructed it so that the entrance for the 
bees was made on the side containing the drawers, they 
being kept from observation by a piece of plain board. 
Being thus constructed, I had to perform every operation in 
front of the main entrance to the hive. In this position, I 
changed the drawers from the middle to the top three times 
in one day. In a short time the bees were at work in eight 
drawers at one time, presenting a beautiful specimen of the 
art of bee-keeping, and producing at the end of the season 
34 lbs. of the purest honey ever seen. Some of the drawers 
contained one solid lump of honey in the shape of a brick ; 
liking the appearance of the combs in this position, I 
changed the position of some others, and caused the bees 
to work them in that form, and to prove this to the public, 
it is my intention to cause the bees to work a drawer of 
honey with the combs in the shape of my initials, W. K., 
and to be exhibited at my agent’s, Mr. Weatherly, con¬ 
fectioner, 04, Theobalds Road, London, in the course of a 
few days, where the hive may be seen and explained.—W. 
King, Littlebury, near Saffron Walden. 
[Mr. King has printed a small pamphlet, from which the 
following is extracted :— 
“ The first thing to be done is to stock the hive : for this 
purpose it must he unscrewed from the floor-board; the 
framework can then be removed, and the swarm put in just 
in the same manner as in the straw hive; it may then remain 
on the spot till the evening, or be removed at once to its 
appointed station, i.e., as soon as the bees get settled, which 
will generally be in about half-an-hour; it may be again 
placed on the floor-board, the frame and cover put on, and 
made secure; but take care to have a good swarm, and, if 
it is a good season, a box or two of honey of the purest and 
finest quality may be obtained. The manner of taking it 
will be as follows : it will easily be ascertained when the hive 
is becoming crowded with inhabitants, by observing them 
through the windows. When this is the case, unstop one or 
both of the side entrances, and draw the slides to admit the 
bees into tho three bottom boxes ; and as soon as they are 
observed to hang in clusters in them it is certain they hays 
begun to construct combs. When they have been in this j 
state two or three days, the box must be removed to the top 
row ; in doing this the slide must first be put in, then the 
protector inserted between the box and the slide ; draw out ' 
the protector, placing the thumb of the left hand against the 
end of the slide to prevent it coming out with the protector. 
In drawing out the protector the box will come out safely 
upon it, at the same time preventing the escape of the bees. 
One of the top boxes must now be removed, and the other 
with the protector put in its place ; hold the end of the box 
with the left hand ; while you draw out the protector, take 
care, to draw the slide, and the bees will carry on their work 
as though they had not been removed ; an empty one may 
now be put in at the bottom, and they will commence their 
work immediately. This plan may be followed till they have j 
occupied all tho boxes. The advantages of removing the 
boxes are these : it encourages the bees to work at the top, j 
sooner than if the slides were drawn to admit them, conse¬ 
quently disperses the bees from the centre to many different 
parts of the hive; it affords plenty of store-room, reduces 
the temperature of the hive, prevents swarming, and the 
honey is whiter than if the boxes were allowed to be filled 
at the bottom. 
“ When a box is quite filled, the same process is to bo 
followed as in removing one; take it to a distance from the 
hive, and keep the bees confined for about fifteen minutes, 
occasionally tapping the sides with the handle of a knife or 
small stick: this will make them anxious.to escape ; they may 
then be allowed to return to the hive. Should any linger 
behind, confine them again, till you perceive them endeavour¬ 
ing to make their escape, when they may be liberated as 
before ; but if you are afraid to do this, remove the one you 
wish to take to either of the ends in the top row of boxes, 
and, if the night should be a little cool, the door of the hive 
may be left open to admit air, which will cause the bees to 
desert it before morning ; the slide may be put in, and the 
box taken at once, without the least fear of being stung. 
“ Although the anti-swarming system has its advantages, 
it has also its disadvantages; for instance, a hive being kept 
more than two or three years without swarming, the combs 
will contain a quantity of bee bread, which prevents the 
queen from laying a sufficient quantity of eggs to keep the 
hive in a prosperous state. 
“ I have constructed my patent hive on a principle which 
will enable the bee master to get the old comb out without 
destroying the bees or even fumigating them. 
“ I have invariably found it the best plan to follow the 
bees in their natural instinct. When the combs in a hive 
become old, and a quantity of bee bread is in them, do not 
allow them to work in the small boxes, but obtain a swarm 
and put it into another of my patent hives, and as soon as 
the bees get settled in it, take off the frame and covering of 
the one containing the old combs, raise it from the floor¬ 
board, and place the one containing the new swarm on the 
board, then set the old one on the top of it as quickly as 
possible ; draw the five slides at the top of the bottom hive, 
and stop up the entrances in the top one, it at once becomes 
a double hive; this being done in the. middle of the day (I 
mean as soon as the new swarms get settled), no inconve¬ 
nience will arise from the union; of course this could not 
be effected without help; it may remain in this state till 
about the month of October, when it may be taken away. 
First, put in the five slides to cut off the communication, 
and if any bees should be found in the top hive, open the 
entrance of it to let them escape, and they will return to the 
bottom hive ; when they have all left it, it may be taken off: 
a large quantity of honey is then obtained for the trouble ; 
the other ivill contain new combs in excellent condition for 
the next season, and its proper covering may then be re¬ 
placed. 
“ If it is thought necessary to feed the bees, this can be 
easily effected by placing the food in one of the bottom 
boxes, and drawing the slide. This will be better than feed¬ 
ing them at the bottom of tho hive, as it saves the bees the 
trouble of descending, and bciDg thereby exposed to danger 
from cold and other causes.”] 
