. The book of the garden. Gardening. stand Mr Munn's theory, it will he neces- sary to peruse his very sensible and unprejudiced book. The hive in common use is too well known to need any description. It is, perhaps, as ill adapted to the wants and habits of the insects as it is unpicturesque and devoid of ornament as a garden ap- pendage. How such a form came to be adopted it is not easy to say, but that it has existed long is quite clear; for we find it in an improved form described by Hartlib in 1655. This improvement con- sists of the addition of a cap or smaller hive set on the top, with
. The book of the garden. Gardening. stand Mr Munn's theory, it will he neces- sary to peruse his very sensible and unprejudiced book. The hive in common use is too well known to need any description. It is, perhaps, as ill adapted to the wants and habits of the insects as it is unpicturesque and devoid of ornament as a garden ap- pendage. How such a form came to be adopted it is not easy to say, but that it has existed long is quite clear; for we find it in an improved form described by Hartlib in 1655. This improvement con- sists of the addition of a cap or smaller hive set on the top, with a view to deprive the swarm of the honey which they may make in it without disturbing the whole. Nutfs hives are represented in fig. 740.— These hives consist of a series of three Fig. a co s boxes placed together collaterally, with an entrance from the centre box to the side ones, which entrance can be opened or shut by means of a sheet of tin which can be pushed backwards or drawn forwards. The centre box is the place of residence and breeding of the queen, and is never disturbed. As the bees require more room, one or both of the sliding sheets of tin are withdrawn, and the bees take possession of one or both of the side boxes. In general one is occupied first, and, when full, they are admitted into the other. The honey is also taken from these side boxes one after the other. Under- neath are drawers for feeding; and on the top is an octagon cover, under which bell glasses are often placed; and the bees having access to them through holes in the top of the centre box, a supply from time to time of honey is thus also obtained. " This bee-hive obviates the necessity of destroying the bees to obtain their honey; and the facts stated by the in- ventor, as to the success of numerous experiments made of his plan, tend to show that, besides the recommendation of humanity, it has in its favour also that of practical utility—the produce of honey being considerably incre
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectgardening, bookyear18
