My ingenious friend, the Rev. T. Clark, of Gedney-Hill, suggests the propriety of recommending that the window-doors be _self-shutting doors_. This, he says, may be done by fixing upon each door a light, easy spring, similar to those made use of to shut doors in good houses; or by a cord attached to each door, and passed through an eye, and over a small pulley fixed to the side of each box; from the end of which cord a weight of two or three ounces must be suspended. This weight, acting upon the cord, will draw the little doors to the windows, that is, it will shut them. The cords, eyes, and pulleys, he further says, may be so arranged, that one small weight will keep all the hive doors, in a set of collateral-boxes, closed and safe, and may be made to hang under the floor. I have no hesitation in recommending his suggestion as ingenious, practicable, and useful. The best security, however, after all, is that afforded by lock and key, the key being in the constant possession of the owner. Ventilate your collateral-boxes and bell-glasses, when the interior temperature is at, or above, 70 degrees. Never irritate your Bees, nor offer any sort of violence or opposition to them; and should an angry Bee or two at any time attack you, walk quietly away, and leave them to settle into peace again. On no account drive your Bees; it is a ruinous practice. With boxes, however, I trust, it is impracticable, and totally superseded. Never disturb, nor in any way interfere with, the middle-box. _On no account destroy any of your Bees:_ independently of its cruelty, it is an impolitic practice: it is like cutting down a tree to get at its fruit, which may easily be gathered by less laborious and indestructive means. Encourage your Bees,--accommodate them,--support them,--and _by all means preserve them_; and, when seasons are favourable, they will _richly_ reward you for your attention to them. Always keep a cottage-hive, or single box or two, in your apiary, for the purpose of having swarms from them, with which to stock empty boxes, or to strengthen such stocks as may stand in need of additional numbers; and proceed with such supplementary swarms as directed in pages 42-45. Never impoverish your Bees by taking from them more honey than they have to spare. Always suffer them to be in possession of a plentiful store. Over-deprivation distresses them, and is no gain to the proprietor. Among other reasons this is one for my repeated directions--not to touch the middle-box.