Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/253

Rh light is desired, it may be obtained by opening the little doors opposite the glass; which doors may be made considerably higher than is above directed, and may have a slider over them, by which their aperture may be diminished at pleasure.

The sliders which cover the panes of glass, ought never to be opened, except for the purpose of observing the bees; because a strong light lessens their disposition to work. If it should be perceived that the coldness of the glass is prejudicial to the bees in winter, it may then be covered with a cotton cloth; or it may be entirely taken away, and a piece of paste-board put in its place; for at that time, the operations of the bees are suspended.

Instead of making a little door to each box, to be left open when the box is lowermost, for the passage of the bees, perhaps it might be better (because more simple) to cut a groove in the board or table on which the hive is placed. This groove should be about two inches wide, and about three-fourths of an inch high at the outer edge, and should be gradually diminished, both in width and height, towards the part where it meets the hive, as is represented at b, in the following figure:



Two advantages are derived from this construction. First, the little door in the box, and the contrivance for opening and shutting it, will be unnecessary. Secondly, it is sometimes proper to diminish or enlarge the opening for the passage of the bees, according to circumstances, without shutting it entirely, and this may be done with the greatest ease, by moving the hive nearer to, or farther from, the edge of the table; or this passage may be entirely closed, by moving the front of the hive beyond the groove; but, in that case, some small holes must be made in the hive to let in air, which may be stopped up when that formed by the groove is open.

A farther advantage attending this construction is, that as the groove will have a slanting direction, the bees will thereby be enabled, with very little trouble, to remove from the hive any dead bees, excrement, &c. which may be obnoxious to their nature.

Another very curious and useful bee-hive, is that originally contrived by Mr., of London; which, from near sixty years experience, has proved of superior utility to any other—it is constructed as follows: the lower part is an octangular box, made of deal boards, about an inch in thickness, the cover of which is externally seventeen inches in diameter, but internally only $15 1⁄2$, and its height ten inches. In the middle of this cover is a hole, which may be opened or shut at pleasure, by means of a slider. In one of the pannels is a pane of glass covered with a wooden door. The bee-hole at the bottom of the box is about $3 1⁄2$ inches broad, and half an inch high. Two slips of deal, about half an inch square, cross each