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384 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Mar, 1900. 
Apiculture. 
HOW TO MAKE AN OBSERVATORY BEE HIVE. 
By H. R. STEPHENS, 
Busy Bee Apiary, Toowoomba. 
Ty order to watch what may be termed the “home life” of bees, special hives a q 
necessary, and on this account are called observatory hives. ‘The hive he sf 
described is intended to hold three frames of Langstroth size. Pine 18 @ ma 
able wood for making the hive, but cedar may be used, although it would 
more expensive. ‘The internal dimensions should be in the same proporiaea 
for an ordinary hive, with the proper bee spaces between the comb and gi +0 1, 
The hive consists of two cases—the inner case A, and an outer case G, 2 
; 
which the former is fitted. The glass is fixed in a separate frame, which sae 
in place by four small buttons. ‘Lhe projecting ends of the tin bar of the ; 
of comb rest on small pieces of tin plate. An outer shutter S should be prev Sot 
to shut out the light as well as to retain heat. In stocking the hives ea 
three combs from the centre of a strong colony containing plenty of brood : the 
stages from the egg upwards. Lift them out, and place one at a time Tt is 
observatory hive, taking care that the queen bee is also moved im. hive 
advisable that a large proportion of the bees to populate the observatory ting 
should be young ones thathave not flown, otherwise there isa great risk of dep! 
it through the old bees going back to the hive from which they were ee mb 
is quite possible to succeed without taking the queen with the bees, if the ¢ 
contains eggs or lary not more than three days old, from which the bees ie 
raise a young queen; but in this case considerable time elapses be All 
progeny of the young queen is added to the population, which, meanwht e, 
diminish Gace in number, so that the results may not be so satisfactory se 
by the first method. The hive should be set up within doors—a warm out 1 tbe 
or shed will do very well, or a room in a dwelling-house might be used a for 
purpose. A covered passage must be made through the wall to the outs! oe 10 
the bees. A small bracket landing-place should be arranged at the entra” | of 
the hive, for the bees to alight upon. Although this is not the right 
7 pl ar age ee merice tem rae ee TB} 
