The light should not be admitted for some days after hiving; if undisturbed, the bees will speedily build comb, working from the wooden bars which are placed there for their assistance and support. In ten days or a fortnight, if the weather continues fine and warm, they will prepare to swarm again; the opening at the top must now be unstopped, and the bell-glass put on, guide comb having been previously fixed. The directions given for the No. 5, Cottage Hive equally apply to the Ladies' Observatory Hive. It is advisable in winter to furnish the glass stock hive with more protection from cold than is afforded by the straw cover alone; some thick baize or wrapper of wadding, for which there is space between the glass hive and the cover, will prevent so much moisture condensing on the sides of the glass. Moisture is injurious, causing the combs to grow mouldy; a little protection in the way of wrapping very much prevents this. The hole at top is used for supplying food should the apiarian fear the stock of honey is in danger of running short; either the bottle feeder, or the round feeder, may be used for the purpose. COTTAGER'S HIVE, No. 8. FOR TAKING HONEY IN STRAW CAPS WITHOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BEES. [Illustration] A very prevalent opinion exists that bees do better in straw than in hives made of any other material. Another opinion prevails, viz., that the old fashioned straw hive is the least expensive, the most simple, and the most productive. Although we cannot go so far as this, we are willing to admit that a simplified adaptation of the humane system to the old common straw hive is the most suitable to put into the hands of that large class of bee-keepers--_Cottagers_. By these the more fanciful hives will be instantly condemned; besides, the expense puts them quite beyond the reach of the poorer class. The object aimed at in planning our Cottager's Hive has been to furnish a depriving hive that should be at once easy of management, inexpensive, and convenient. The stock hive, into which the bees are first hived, is a round straw hive, having a flat top with a hole in the centre. The size of this lower hive is 7 or 8 inches deep, 14 inches across the bottom, finished with a wooden hoop, which adds very much to the firmness and durability of the hive. The floorboard is 1¼ inch thick, with a way sunk therein for the entrance. A small round mat of straw closes the hole on the top; this mat may be fixed by wooden pegs. We have now described what is termed the _stock hive_, which is, in fact, an old fashioned straw hive adapted, modernised, and improved to the more humane, viz., the depriving system. The weight of the stock hive with its floorboard is about 7 lbs. The super or cap hive is about 7 inches deep, 8 inches in diameter, and when filled contains about 10 lbs. of honey and comb. A glass window which is placed at the side is useful for inspecting the progress made in filling it.