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Mr. Pettitt has provided, for those who can afford it, a very elegant and ornamental house, which he calls "The Temple Bee-hive." It forms a very suitable ornament on a lawn, and when three guineas can be spared, nothing can be better. It is, however, more adapted to the garden surrounding a gentleman's residence than to circumstances in which it is desirable to obtain large profits from little outlay. But as I wish proprietors of estates to take an interest in bee-keeping, I would try to tempt them by specimens of ornamental bee-furniture.
I give the drawing of it shut, with Mr. Pettitt's description.
Temple Bee-hive, closed. (Showing the entrance).
"Temple Bee-hives, for the humane treatment of honey-bees, are got up in a tasteful and substantial manner; and when placed upon a lawn, in a flower-garden, or on a balcony, have a most picturesque appearance. They need no shade or shelter from extreme solar heat in summer, or from humidity and cold during winter, but afford of themselves a sufficient protection to the industrious tenants. Each hive is furnished with four bell-glasses, from which the drones are effectually excluded, and the temperature of the interior can be so regulated by the use of the ventilators and thermometers, as to prevent the necessity of swarming."
I add also a drawing of the same Temple opened from behind, with his observations.
Temple Bee-hive, open. (Showing the interior.)
"This plate shows the interior of the Temple Hive on the preceding page, with four glass supers upon the top. Owing to the difficulty some persons have experienced in getting the bees to work in the glasses, we have introduced small wooden boxes with glass windows; and it is quite certain that the bees will collect a larger quantity of honey in these small supers than they will in the glasses, particularly in uncertain and unsettled seasons."