1220 Live Steck.—Bess-—-FProper Hives for. t

and at the accuflomed rate. They fhould be felected by a tkilful perfon, in a coof evening, or rather morning very carly, By tapping about the hive, a. pretty near guefs may be formed whether or not it is fullof bees, as alfo if fallof combs. But for greater certainty, turn thofe that feem heavy upon the edge of the hive, and obferve if theinterftices between the combs are crowded with bees, and the combs worked down tothe floor. If white, orof alight yellow, it denotes their being of the prefent year’s produce, and fit for the purpofe; but if they are of a very deep yellow or brown, they are of the laft feafon, and not fo proper; while thofe that are dingy or blackith are old, and wholly unfit to furnifh a profperous apiary. But though ahive may have the edges of the combs of alight yellow, they may be old ftocks, whofe combs the preceding year not having been completed, have in the pre- fent had new borders added to them of virgin wax, fo as to look like young ftocks. Look carefully between the combs, as far as the bees will admit; and if the interior parts appear favourable, form a judgment accordingly.‘The hive fhould be poifed in the hand; and if it be about half bufhel fize, and weigh twenty-five pounds or upwards, it is another teftof its being a good ftock*.”

The“ removing of ftocks fhould take place in the evening, or very early in the morning.‘The hive fhould be raifed by three or four wedges, fome hours before, provided the floor is not moveable; or otherwife many bees will remain on the floor at the time, and be very troublefome. A cloth muft be laid on the ground behind the hive to be removed; nimbly lift the hive thereon, and gathering the four corners tight, tie them faft on the top: immediately draw a ftring clofe round the body of the hive, to prevent any bees crawling between.” They muft be conveyed in a gentle manner.

In regard to hives, ftraw is the beft material,“ as protecting the bees the moft perfectly in the extremes of cold and heat, and being alfo generally eafieft to be procured. Whereit is not fo, rufhes, wicker-work plaftered over, or fedges, may be fubftituted in its ftead. For this ufe, unthrafhed ftraw fhould always be em- ployed, of all kinds of which that of rye is to be preferred, as thrafhing fhivers and makes it rough and fhaggy, which the bees with much labour are obliged to gnaw offt. Theyare made of different forms or fhapes, but thofe in common ufe anfwer very well; they fhould be neatly hooded over with an upper coating of ftraw§.

The chief attention neceflary in the management of bees is at the period of their fwarming, when great care fhould be taken to fecure them.

* Keys on Bees.+ Ibid. t Ibid,§ Pitt’s Agricultural Report of Staffordthire.