Description Of Cutting's Changeable Hive

Categories: HIVES.
Bee Keeping: Mysteries Of Bee-keeping Explained

"The size of the changeable hive most used in this section, has an

outside shell, made of inch boards, about two feet high and sixteen and

a half inches square, with a door hung in the rear. On the inside are

three boxes or drawers, which will hold about one thousand cubic inches

each, and when filled with honey, usually weigh about thirty-five

pounds, which is a sufficient amount of honey to winter a large swarm.

The ides of these drawers are made of boards, about half an inch

thick; the tops and bottoms of the lower drawers and ends of the upper

drawers should be three-fourths of an inch, and the drawers should be

fourteen inches high, fourteen inches from front to rear, and six and

three-fourths inches wide. Two of these drawers stand side by side,

with the third placed flatwise upon the two, with a free communication

from one drawer to another, by means of thirty three-fourth inch holes

on the side of each drawer, and twenty-four in the bottom of the upper

drawer, and holes in the top and bottom of the lower drawers, to

correspond, and slides to cut off the communication when occasion may

require. Thus we see our hive may be one hive, with communication

sufficiently free throughout, or we may have three hives combined. The

drawers have tubes made in them, (for the bees to pass and repass),

which are made to go through the front side of the hive. The back-side

of the drawers are doors, with glass set in them. These drawers set up

from the bottom of the hive, and rest on pieces of wood, closely fitted

in such a way, as to make a space under the drawers for the _dirt_,

_dead bees_, and _water_, which collect in the bottom of hives in

winter; between the drawers and the outside is an air space of about

one-third of an inch.



These hives, when well made and painted, will last many years, and

those doing much in the business will find it an advantage to have a

few extra drawers. Having given you some idea of the construction of

the changeable hive, I will proceed to notice some of the most

important reasons why I prefer this hive to any I have yet seen. First

because the hive, being constructed upon the changeable principle, so

that by taking out a full drawer, and placing an empty one in its

stead, our comb is always kept new, wherefore, the size of the bee is

preserved, and kept in a more healthy, or prosperous state, or

condition, than when obliged to remain and continue to breed, in the

old comb, when the cells have become small. Secondly, because small,

late swarms may be easily united. Thirdly, because large swarms may be

easily divided. Fourthly, because however late a swarm may come off, it

may be easily supplied with honey for the winter, by taking from a full

hive a surplus drawer, and placing it in the hive of the late swarm.

Fifthly, because a column of air between the drawers and the outside of

the hive is a non-conductor of both heat and cold, preventing the

melting of the comb, and securing the bees against frost and cold."



Now here is a full description of perhaps as good a hive as any of its

class; it is given for the benefit of those who wish to go miles

instead of rods; they may know the road, especially as they can have

the privilege by paying for it: for myself, I had rather be

excused,--why, reading the description has nearly exhausted my

patience; what should I do if I attempted to make one?