HIVES, EVOLUTION OF 
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the Buckeye hive. For the average locality, 
where it is not too cold, where there is 
plenty of snow, or where there are good 
windbreaks, the Buckeye hive affords suf¬ 
ficient protection. It is admirably adapted 
Original Root chaff hive. 
for localities like that of Tennessee, some 
of the other southern States, and many 
parts of California, where the nights are 
cold, down almost to freezing, and the days 
are warm. The double walls prevent the 
bees from coming out too freely on warm 
days, and protect the brood at night. 
PACKING MATERIAL. 
In former times, when chaff from wheat 
or oats was available, this was the material 
used. In later years planer shavings from 
a planing mill have been used 
very extensively with excellent fiq 
results. Dry forest leaves when 
packed solid are perhaps better 
yet. 
HIVES, EVOLUTION OF — 
Primitive hives were simply the 
trunks of hollow trees in which 
bees were lodged, cut down and 
carried wherever the beekeeper 
desired. This plan of beekeep¬ 
ing is still practiced in some 
parts of Europe, in southeastern 
United States, and is common 
enough in Africa. The stingless- 
bee apiaries of South America 
have hives of this description. 
The next step was to construct 
a cylinder resembling the trunk 
of a tree, either of wood or 
earthenware. In northern cli¬ 
mates straw came into use, but 
had to be fashioned in the shape 
of a bell to make it easy of construction. 
This is the kind of hive which wak so high¬ 
ly praised by poets. It has the merits of 
extreme simplicity and cheapness. Usually 
it had cross-sticks added inside to keep the 
combs from falling down. See Skeps. 
Not all beekeepers were satisfied with 
these hives; and as early as the 17th century 
some few began to cast about for something 
better. Della Rocca, who wrote a book on 
bees in the 18th century, mentions bar hives 
as in vogue in the islands of the Grecian 
Archipelago, where he lived for many years. 
Bar hives and movable combs are referred 
to in a book published in Italian in 1590. 
The author was Giovanni Rucellai. Such 
hives were known even to the ancient Greeks. 
They resembled large flowerpots with wood¬ 
en bars on which the bees were to fasten 
their combs. The shape of the hive made it 
practically impossible to cause a breakdown 
of the combs except by heat. 
The plan of a movable roof was another 
step in advance, as it gave the beekeeper an 
opportunity to put on an upper story or a 
super to hold the surplus honey where it 
should be, and remove it at the end of the 
honey harvest. 
Mewe, in Great Britain, constructed hives 
of wood on somewhat the same plan as 
