In Unicomb hives stocked with a natural swarm (as is generally the plan), there is considerable difficulty in keeping the bees alive through the winter. In a hive where the combs are removeable, no loss of bees need be occasioned. We do not recommend the hive we are now describing as a winter residence for bees. For four months in the year, when bees are most active and when their operations are most interesting, this hive may be brought into use, either of the two plans before described being adopted. An artificial swarm should be put in during May or June, and taken out, in the method before mentioned, and then placed in the square box during the month of September; sometimes it may do for a stock to be put in a month or so earlier, but should never be retained later in this hive. In October we often have cold nights; the bees and brood being in such close contact with the glass, and not able to cluster as is their natural wont, suffer from exposure to the variations of temperature. In some degree to moderate this. Me have used treble glass with a space between each square; greater warmth is thus attained, and the view is not intercepted. Opportunity should be taken for cleaning the Unicomb hive when empty, so as to be ready for re-stocking as a new hive in the following summer. The "Unicomb Observatory" hive is one which might have been suggested by the lines of Evans:—
By this blest art our ravished eyes behold
The singing masons build their roofs of gold.
And mingling multitudes perplex the view,
Yet all in order apt their tasks pursue;
Still happier they whose favoured ken hath seen
Pace slow and silent round, the state's fair queen.
HUBER'S HIVE. No. 19.
To Francis Huber—not improperly styled the "Prince of Apiarians,"—we are indebted for more extensive and accurate observations on the habits of the Bee than has been contributed by all other observers since the time of Aristotle.
During the early period of Huber's investigations, he prosecuted them by means of single comb hives which allow of each side of the comb being examined. He found, however, that these had one important defect. The bees could not in these hives cluster together, which is their natural method of withstanding the effects of a reduced temperature. Huber hit upon the ingenious expedient of combining a number of single comb frames so as to form one complete hive, which could be opened in order to expose any particular comb, without disturbing the rest. From the manner of the opening and closing of this hive, it has generally been called the "Leaf or Book Hive." The division separating each comb is joined both back and front with "butt hinges," fastened with a moveable pin, on withdrawing which, at either side, each comb and the bees on it may be inspected as easily as if in a single comb hive. Huber's Leaf Hive is thus in appearance as if several of those "History of England" back-gammon chess boards were set up on end together. The floorboard on which the hive stands is larger than the hive when closed, so as to allow of its being opened freely at any particular "volume." An entrance way for the bees is hollowed out of the floorboard as in other hives. There is a glass window in each end of the hive, which is provided with a shutter.