These straw hives have been generally made without windows; as Mr. Woodbury and other scientific apiarians so prefer them. They consider that glass windows are unsuited for winter, because then moisture condenses on the glass. There is no doubt that the having a peep hole or two in a hive adds very agreeably to its value for amateur bee-keepers, and to meet the wishes of such, we have had straw hives constructed with windows. It is not every one who would like to lift out the frames as often as is necessary for an inspection of the state of the colony, nor, perhaps, is it advisable to be often thus meddling. The windows have also a very neat appearance. We have hives with one, and some with two and three windows; of course, a little extra expense is incurred where these are made; but that is not objected to by those who approve of the additional convenience. The crown board (if correct to call a straw top by that name) has, like the hive, a frame of wood all round, and a square piece of wood in the centre, with a two inch hole; this hole is for the purpose of administering food in a mode to be explained hereafter. A circular block of wood, 4 inches in diameter, closes the opening.
GLASS BAR AND FRAME HIVES.
Some bee-keepers like to be able to make a full and daily inspection of the hive; we have therefore prepared a few hives, constructed of wooden frames enclosed on all sides and on the top with window glass. The dimensions are precisely the same as those before mentioned, and allow of the same number of bars and frames (ten). The crown has a round hole cut in the glass to admit of feeding. The four sides are constructed of double glass, to preserve the bees from variations of temperature. We cannot, however, recommend this hive for a winter residence for the bees; we should prefer lifting the combs out with the bees, and placing them in a straw hive of similar construction, to pass through the ordeal of the winter season. A stock of bees might be kept through the year in a hive of this kind, but would require well wrapping round to keep out the cold. There should be a small glass over the hole at top so as to allow the moisture to arise and condense, instead of doing so in the hive. The operation of exchanging the hive is so easy, that we should be content to place a stock in one, say, from April to September, and shift it in the autumn. Such a hive is a very pleasing object of interest, as in it the whole commonwealth of bees is exposed to view; and the hive need not be obscured from daylight, provided it be protected from sun and rain. All the external wood-work is of oak colour varnished, so that the appearance of the "Glass Bar and Frame Hive" is extremely neat and much approved of.
Frame.—As before mentioned, each stock hive has ten of these frames, each 13 inches long by 7¼ inches high, with a ⅝ inch projection at either upper end, which rests in the notch, either back or front. The width both of the bar and frame is ⅞ of an inch; this is less by ¼ of an inch than the bar recommended by the older apiarians. Mr. Woodbury,—whose authority on the modern plans for keeping bees is of great weight,—finds the ⅞ of an inch bar an improvement, because with them the combs are closer together, and require fewer bees to cover the brood. Then, too, in the same space that eight old fashioned bars occupied the narrower frames admit of an additional bar, so that, by using these, increased accommodation is afforded for breeding and the storing of honey.
Section of bar.
Improved Comb Bar.—Mr. Woodbury says that this little contrivance has proved very effectual in securing straight combs when guide combs are not obtainable. The lower angles are rounded off, whilst a central rib is added of about ⅛ of an inch in breadth and depth. This central rib extends to within ½ an inch of each end, where it is removed in order to admit of the bar fitting into the usual notch. All that is necessary to insure the regular formation of combs is, to coat the underneath surface of the central rib with melted wax. Mr. Woodbury further says, "my practice is to use plain bars whenever guide-combs are attainable, as these can be attached with much greater facility to a plain than to a ribbed bar; but whenever I put in a bar without comb, I always use one of the improved ones. By this method, crooked and irregular combs are altogether unknown in my apiary."
Most of our bars are made with the ridge; but should any of our customers prefer the flat ones, we keep a few to supply their requirements.