The unicomb hive may be stocked in two ways. The bee-keeper may either select the comb upon which the queen is found, and put it into the hive, and so form an artificial swarm as directed under that heading (Chap. V. § vi.), or he may take six brood combs, and by that means stock the unicomb at once. The former plan is, perhaps, the more advisable, because new comb has to be built within the five frames; for in this case five empty frames must be put in. It is a better plan still if artificial combs are placed in each frame, so as to afford an interesting opportunity of watching the formation of the cells therein. The' combs are sure to be dark in colour when taken from a stock hive, and new combs, being whiter, have a better appearance in the hive. The comb upon which the queen was introduced may be taken away after the artificial swarm has made combs within some of the other five frames; when the queen is on one of the new combs, opportunity may easily be taken for opening the hive and removing the old dark comb, which, with the unhatched brood, may be deposited in any square hive that needs strengthening. If the possessor of a square Woodbury frame hive wishes to start a strong unicomb colony, and does not object to appropriating the stock, he must take out of the Woodbury hive any six combs on the frames, and put the unicomb in its place so as to receive all the returning bees that happen to be abroad; the remaining combs can be inserted in any other frame hives in which there may be room. We have had this hive in operation, stocked in such manner, and found it to answer remarkably well. On a lawn, placed on a suitable ornamental stand, it formed a pleasing and instructive object. In unicomb hives there is considerable difficulty in keeping the bees alive through the winter, but where the combs are removable, this can be avoided by the transfer recommended in Chap. V. § xx. In some degree to moderate the variations of temperature we have used treble glass with a space between each square; greater warmth is thus obtained, and the view is not intercepted. Opportunity should be taken for cleaning the unicomb hive when empty. § XVIII. NEIGHBOURS' UNICOMB OBSERVATORY HIVE--INDOOR. [Illustration]