444 
HIVES 
the part D projects beyond A. It is ton- 
gued and grooved to fit a corresponding 
tongue and groove edge of the two side 
boards that were beveled to shed water. 
The space under D is filled with a thin 
board *4 inch thick, the ends of which pro¬ 
ject into the %-ineh groove of the end- 
cleats, E, where it is securely held in place. 
In very hot climates a two-thickness or 
gabled cover is used. The lower part of 
the cover is flat, and the upper part ga¬ 
bled, as shown in the preceding cut. 
TELESCOPE COVERS. 
There is a strong and rapidly growing 
tendency at the present time toward a dou¬ 
ble or telescopic cover, as is shown in the 
illustrations. 
Telescope cover. 
The loAver cover consists of two or more 
tongued-and-grooved boards, % inch thick, 
with rim of % x %-inch wooden strip 
around the edge. At the center there is a 
hole for a Porter bee-escape, so that by in¬ 
serting the escape the inner cover can be 
used as an escape-board. The inner cover 
takes the place of the metal-bound super¬ 
cover as used formerly. It lies directly 
over the frames, and over this is placed a 
shallow telescoping cover made of % lum¬ 
ber, and covered with sheet metal or roofing 
paper. 
A top protection of this sort is not only 
better than a single-board cover, but it 
shuts out the weather. The air-space be¬ 
tween the two covers gives the bees better 
protection from the direct rays of the hot 
sun if the hives are out in the open, and, 
if kept painted, such a cover will last in¬ 
definitely. The lower cover will be sealed 
down by the bees. The upper one cannot 
blow off: because the downwardly project¬ 
ing sides hold it in place. Of course such 
an arrangement makes extra handling in 
opening and closing the hive; but the 
majority of beekeepers are beginning to 
see that this is more than offset by the 
greater durability and better protection. 
This cover is so far superior to all the 
other covers previously shown that it is 
rapidly superseding them. , It is warmer 
in winter and cooler in summer. It is also 
more durable. 
HIVE-BODIES OR BROOD-NESTS. 
These are plain boxes without top or bot¬ 
tom, preferably lock-cornered. They are 
rabbeted at the upper inside ends to re¬ 
ceive the projections of the frames referred 
to later on. Under the head of “Frames” 
and “A B C of Beekeeping” there will be 
found a diagram showing the position of 
the hive-body or brood-nest, and how the 
frames to hold the combs hang in the rab¬ 
bets before mentioned. Practically all of 
the hives sent out by the regular beehive 
factories are lock-cornered for additional 
strength. When made in local planing- 
mills the corners are usually “halved” by 
cutting out a rabbet in the sides or ends; 
but the lock-cornering is much preferable 
for the reason stated. 
HIVE BOTTOMS, OR FLOORS. 
The general practice is to make the bot¬ 
tom or floor of the hive separate from the 
hive-body. Bodies are made to sit down 
upon raised edges of the floor or bottom. 
This floor should preferably have a deep 
Bottom-board. 
side and a shallow side. During hot weather 
it is customary to use the deep side to give 
more space under the hive, affording a 
larger entrance and better ventilation. This 
