Having thus far given my plan for managing Bees in the Improved Cottage Hive, I would now address a few words to the amateur, for the purpose of recommending to his attention one of the 'best amateur's hives that I have ever seen. It was invented by Mr. Taylor, author of "The Bee-keeper's Manual," and is called "Taylor's Amateurs' Bar Hive."
By the introduction of bars each comb is made available, whether for separate extraction or for experimental purposes. Indeed, in this hive both the Bees and their store are at all times completely under the command of their proprietors. From this hive fine honey may be obtained, swarming effectually prevented, and artificial swarms, when required, insured. I was kindly favoured with one of the above hives from the inventor in time to have a swarm hived into it on the 28th of May. In about three weeks from that time, I found it necessary to put on the upper box; and early in September I took it off, containing 30 lbs. of the finest honeycomb, yet leaving a full supply in the lower or stock-box for the Bees during the winter and spring. Another great advantage from this hive, above all others, is, that a comb may be extracted at any time, which, where glasses or boxes are used, cannot be done; these must be filled before they are removed, or much loss of time is occasioned to the Bees.
Having already described the hive I most approve of, I will now give a description of a newly-invented one of my own. Convinced, as I have for some time been, of the many advantages arising from having every hive fitted with bars, I have at length constructed a square straw hive of that kind, which, from its inexpensiveness, I trusted would have come within the reach of almost every cottager; but since putting together the little items of cost for its several parts I fear that I am mistaken, for it can cost but little, if any, less than 8s. The hive, as I have already said, is of straw, and perfectly square, 131/2 inches by 131/2, fitted with eight bars of 11/8 inch wide, with a cover of wood—the bars are kept in their places by zinc fittings. The openings in the crown-board are so placed as to allow of one large glass, or two or three small ones, being worked. It is protected from the weather by a milk-pan only in the winter, and in the summer, whilst glasses are on (which may be covered with an old hive), by a milk-pan and zinc shade. From the facility given by the bars to renew the combs, this hive may be expected to stand for many years: therefore, two or three coats of paint should be given it before the Bees are put into it, and an additional one every year or two afterwards; and, as a further means of preserving it from decay, the floor-board should be the exact size of the hive, so that the drip from the milk-pan clears it. A slight projecture in front for alighting must of course be allowed; but by a careful adjustment of the milk-pan the drip may be made to escape this also.
FENN'S HIVE.
There is an admirable hive contrived by Mr. Robert Fenn, of Woodstock, described in the Journal of Horticulture, and which has proved one of the best of what may be called "cottage hives." It consists of a straw hive, [fig. 13, 3], 16 inches in diameter, 11 inches deep, straight-sided, quite flat on the top, the permanent mahogany adapting board having a central hole about 3 inches in diameter, over which is placed a thinnish round of plaited straw, slightly secured with wall nails, though sufficiently so to prevent the egress of the Bees. Two pieces of hard-wood sticks run completely and centrally through at right angles to support the comb. The central hole of the adapter, [fig. 9], is fitted with a moveable round piece of thin deal that fits exactly to the size of the hole, and this is supported by four pins that are let into the sides of the hole, and project about one-eighth of an inch, so as to allow the flap to rest upon them. The edges of the rounded flap are cutaway as represented [fig. 9], so as to leave openings between the flap and the adapter of not more than one-quarter of an inch, which will admit the worker Bees to ascend upwards, but not the queen or the drones. Two other openings may be cut not quite one-quarter of an inch broad, and three-quarters of an inch from the sides. Two rows of holes may be bored, or a slit too narrow to allow a Bee to pass, may be formed along the centre of the flap to act as an air-passage. A strip of paper pasted to the flap and the adapter will form a sort of house. Paste another piece of adhesive on at the opposite end of the flap only. When the permanent adapting board is placed—for it is never removed during the honey-gathering season—upon the hive, take off the small round piece of plaited straw from the top central hole, and quickly place a glass tumbler inverted over the hole, which effectually prevents a Bee from escaping to place itself in jeopardy or to annoy the operator. Then if the top of the hive is at all sunken, which is frequently the case, have small deal fillets ([fig. 8]), a trifle wider in diameter than the central hole of the adapter, and of various depths, to slip over the tumbler, and a wind of cotton wadding also to lay nearly around the outside circumference on the top of the hive.
Fig. 8.
Then place on the permanent adapting board (fig. 9), when the tumbler will obtrude itself up through the flaphole, and no insect will ever be able to pass the cotton wadding one way, nor, by reason of the fillet, will the Bees be able to go between the hive and the adapter on the other. Now moisten the end of the adhesive paper, quickly take away the tumbler, down with the flap, press the adhesive paper on to the board, and place the super-board ([fig, 10]), which must have a flap in its centre to exactly correspond with the one below. Two guide pencil-marks on each board, previously marked, will point out their proper positions; and by reason of these duplicate openings in the flaps it will be seen by illustration to admit of two glasses ([fig. 10 a a]), being worked in lieu of one, which is another great point gained in a good and early honey season. Now slip a carpet-bag over the glasses to keep them warm, and the super-over-hive over that; and then cover the whole with a brown glazed milk-pan.
| Fig. 9. | Fig. 10. |
