A hive 20 × 12, well filled, will weigh about 100 lb. ; one 18 × 12, 80 lb.; and the 16-inch hive will weigh about 50 lb. These figures are meant to give the reader an approximate idea of the contents of the hives recommended. In the months of May and June, the hives would be at the swarming-point before they reach the weights here mentioned, and in the autumn of favourable. seasons they would probably go beyond these weights without the bees ever thinking of swarming. But we want to know a little of the capabilities of these big hives. How much honey can they gather in fine weather per day! That greatly depends on the state of the atmosphere; for soft warm winds from the west and south fill the nectaries of flowers with honey, whereas winds from the east and north seem to stanch the flow of honey almost completely.

Well, but on good pasture, and with favourable weather, a 20-inch hive, well filled with bees, will gather from 4 to 10 lb. per day; the 18-inch hive, from 3 to 7 lb. per day; and the 16-inch hive, from 2 to 4 lb. per day. Here, again, a great deal depends on the number of empty cells in a hive, and the quantity of brood that requires attention.

We have known, as already stated, one hive only that gained 10 lb. in weight per day. It was placed in the midst of good pasture, when it weighed 39 lb. It rapidly rose in weight to 109 lb., and in two days it gained 20 lb., besides keeping itself. The traffic of bees going out and in of this hive, while gathering so much honey, was graphically described to resemble the steam of a tea-kettle going two yards from its mouth before vanishing amongst thin air. But it is good work for a hive to gather from 3 lb. to 5 lb. per day, and this is of frequent occurrence where large hives are kept.

But why use the smaller size at all when we see that the 18-inch hive does more work of every kind? We are

glad this question has been mooted, for it gives us the opportunity of saying that hives of two or three sizes are of great advantage to a bee-keeper who acts on a principle, sound and natural, and with his eye constantly open to his own interests.

All seasons are not alike favourable, and all swarms are not equally large, and some are early and some late in leaving their mother hives. When we come to the chapter on swarming, instructions will be given as to which size of hive will be best for certain swarms and seasons, but half a word to the wise is enough.

The shape of hives may be rather conical at the top, or flat crowned. It is a matter of taste and convenience this. Some bee-keepers like the one sort and some the other; and some skep or hive makers can produce or build a hive each after his own pattern only. We have been accustomed to the use of hives rather flat in their crowns, and we prefer them to the hives with conical

Here is a straw hive 18 inches by 12. Its sides are nearly perpendicular; its crown nearly flat. It has an opening 4 inches wide in the crown for a super, and a lid to cover that opening when supers are not required. The 16-inch hives are made after the same fashion-all with holes in their crowns for supers of honeycomb. well-made 18-inch hive weighs when empty about 5 lb., and a 16-inch one about 4 lb.

A

When an 18-inch hive receives an eke-say, 4 inches deep-it will measure 18 × 16, and contain nearly 4000 cubic or square inches of space. Now, tell us if a hive of such dimensions, well filled with combs, will not overtask the laying powers of a queen bee? No; we have seen larger hives as full of brood as the smallest hive in the country ever was.

Before we leave the question of sizes, let us warn our readers not to be too hasty in introducing the large sizes into their apiaries. Begin with the 16-inch hive, and never purchase one less. The second year the swarms from these will be able to fill the larger sizes.

THE MATERIALS OF HIVES.

Straw hives, well sewed with split canes or bramblebriers, are incomparably better for bees than any other kind of hive yet introduced. Nothing better is needed, and we believe nothing better will ever be found out. On the score of cheapness, neatness, lightness, suitability, and surpassing worth, we advise all bee-keepers to use nothing but straw hives as domiciles for their bees, if their aim be to get honey and profit.

Where straw hives cannot be obtained, wooden boxes are used; but they are very objectionable in every sense, save, perhaps, their durability.

Hives made of wood, at certain seasons condense the moisture arising from the bees, and this condensed moisture invariably rots the combs. The walls of a wooden hive are often like the walls of a very damp or newlyplastered house. The outside combs, and sometimes the centre combs too, perish before the wet walls of these wooden hives. They perish in this sense, that their

nature or adhesive power goes like mortar in walls, and becomes as rotten as a piece of burnt paper. All such rotten combs are worse than useless in hives, for they have to be taken down and fresh ones put in their places. There is in this work of the bees a waste of both time and honey.

the use of boxes as beeThe great bulk of straw

But how can we account for hives in this country at all? hives of English make are exceedingly small and ill made, and are really not fit to be used as bee-hives; comparatively, they are not worth one shilling a-dozen. Well, many bee-keepers finding them very unsatisfactory, and unsightly too, have invented hives of wood. Of course everybody loves his own offspring, and likes to see it bear a good name, and be recognised in society. Every invention is a grand affair! Both architect and builder join hands in supplying the world with an article decidedly superior to all that has gone before! And what was begun in honest effort ends in full-fledged quackery. And hundreds, ignorant of bee-science, are induced to purchase these costly hives, which, in their own turn, are found so unsatisfactory, that the purchasers think that they will never be duped again. Another invention turns up in the shape of a costly hive-to be managed on the "depriving" or humane system! Many, again, are bewitched by the very name of the last invention, and ignorantly spend their money for hives which the writer. would not accept as a gift.

It appears from Mr Quinby's book on bees, that in America the new inventions in bee-hives are more numerous than they are in England, and are well patented and patronised. He says, after showing the worthlessness of many patent hives, "that in Europe the same ingenuity is displayed in twisting and torturing the bee,

to adapt her unnatural tenements, invented not because the bee needs them, but because this is a means available for a little change. 'Patent men' have found the people generally too ignorant of apiarian science. But let us hope that their days of prosperity, in this line, are about numbered."

Mr Quinby, who is one of the most enlightened and common-sense bee-keepers living, knows well, that where profit is the object, common hives are the best. If we were to give full expression to our opinion of the various kinds of hives now being sold in this country at exorbitant prices, who would venture to protect us from the hurricane of abuse that would be poured upon us?

Hear what Mr Quinby says: "We have faithfully supported a host of speculators on our business for a long time; often not caring one straw about our success, after pocketing the fee of successful humbuggery.' One is no sooner gone than we are beset with another with something altogether different, and, of course, the acme of perfection."

In making these statements and quotations, we know that the prejudices of some of our readers will be offended. We are sorry for this, but we cannot help it; we like to be honest.

To have done, let me again say that well-made straw hives of considerable dimensions are better than wood hives of any description; better for the swarming system of management, and better for the non-swarming; better for comb-building and better for honey-gathering; better for health and better for ventilation; equal in every way to wood for supers, better for nadirs, better for winter, and better for summer.

I am not aware that good skeps (straw hives) are made in England; hence my order goes to Scotland, through Mr.