THE STEWARTON HIVE.
During the last few years there have been great changes introduced in the form and arrangements of Bee hives, which have met with the highest approval of our best practical apiarians. Of these we shall just notice those which have come in for the greatest share of favour, and which are obtainable at a price which is within the means of persons of ordinary income.
The Stewarton Hive may be said to have revolutionised the whole system of storifying bar hives. It has been in use for many years in Ayrshire, and their introduction to the south is due to the late Mr. Eaglesham, of Stewarton—an enthusiastic and very successful apiarian
These hives consist of boxes of an octagonal shape, three of which are set one upon the other and constitute a hive. The inside measure is 133/4 inches across from side to side, or from back to front. The height of the box, measured inside, is 53/4 inches. The bottom is perfectly open. The top is quite flat, and consists of seven fixed bars, each 11/2 inch wide, placed parallel to each other in the direction from back to front. The spaces between the bars are three-eighths of an inch wide, and are capable of being closed by strips of wood, which slide in grooves made in the sides of the bars, and which can readily be drawn out behind when required. Across the middle of each box, at half its height, is a cross bar serving to support the comb. Windows with sliding shutters are placed in the back and front of each box, and an entrance is cut out of the front, 3 inches in width by half an inch in height, with a slide to close it to any required extent. In addition to the set of three boxes, a shallow honey-box 33/4 inches in depth, and without an entrance in the front, but otherwise made in precisely the same manner, is used as a super. These boxes being used on the storifying system, they are furnished with buttons and hooks for the purpose of securing them together.
The general outline of the management is as follows:—A swarm is hived into two boxes communicating with each other. When these are nearly filled with comb a honey-box is placed above, neatly furnished with guide-combs on the bars. When the Bees are fairly at work in the honey-box, the third body box may be added below to give increased room and prevent swarming. In the winter this third box is removed, and the comb it contains left in, as it possesses a value well known to every skilled Bee-keeper. Feeding when required is liberally pursued, enough being given at once in the autumn to last till spring. The feeding-box, 8 inches square by 11/2 inch deep, is divided by strips of wood into divisions half an inch wide. This is placed on the top of the hive, covered over with a box, and the slides withdrawn to permit the Bees to ascend to the food.