A CHEAP BEEHIVE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 129, 24 February 1908, Page 2

A CHEAP BEEHIVE.

from a kerosene case,

now TO MAKE IT. , Tho new edition of the Government Apiarist's " 800 Bulletin," just issued, contains full directions for making a legal . . frame hive " out of a kerosene icaso'.' Tin " Apiarist explains'that he does not recommend anything but a properly-mado liive, but merely puts Forward this"clicap home-made , article to meet the needs, those' 1 who..fexjl t that .they aro compelled to study the cost. : J.IIO fact, however, that .a .Taranaki apiarist, recently had a successful apiary of 100 Buch. hives, _and that. (as the 1 " Bulletin." ,;inpn- . tions) Mr. Stewart, of Crookston, Southland, • naa over 200 of such hives in use last seasons W ll ®'ho secured between lr.OOOlb.Vand'• iZjUOOIb. of; first-class hqney, prove that they - • aro, somethirig more than toys. The "BulleV . 1i S c : directions.aro here.appended!— '. i; ■ a coniploto kerosene casey''an" ' carefully knock oft ono of. tho broad side 6 - 7 nail on tho original cover,which will now J form ono of the sides. If tho sides of tli'o cfiso aro not level all round build them up love! with fillets of wood. The inside depth should bo 10in.' Next nail on at each .end,, ? 4i an ,n^l holow tho inside upper '.edges 0 , tho case, to suspend tho frames-from, a--fillet of wood §in. thick by JinXfcide, and the.: (Ft inside end of tho case. . ' , I would strongly recommend the purchasing of' Hoffman • frames from tho manufacturers, as they require to bo very accurately made;'and aro rather ,difficult to; niake by hand. 'If, however, it is desired to construct them make the top bar 15-]6in.'wide • by Jin. deep, and lSJin. : long. ; Shoulders should bo cut'out on,ends sin. long, leaving ' a thickness 'of-'Jini to rest on th©: fillets. ; The ,- ends should be SJin. long, tho same width : as the top. bar,: arid Jin. thick ;;bottotn bar.- . 17iin. 'loiig, Jin. .wide, and Jin. thick., :Therp : aro ten frames;.and' as they only cost ls;: : .in , • tho flat and about lOd. postage,-or,.' o;.' . trill 0 1 over'. 2d. per frame, it/may, jn,.ma'ny 1cases pay to;purcliaso _them.;-. "An ontralico Jin. wide by6inl loriff should . :• bo.cut out of tho lower'part of! diip. dnd'.of - the case, and a small alighting- hoard, bo nailed on undorncathi';projectirig .from< 2iiiito'3ih. in front.' :l": v -;.\ ■'

"The cover can bo'madb-:from:tho sideknocked' off, and should I have' small 'fillets,! liri.' wide, nailod on' right round tho 'edge,:; to overlap' tho body. -: Cbvier.-rthe"',top;-;with'.-.ruberoid-or. other waterproof material;-,and let it overlap tho edges.- : ■ _" With regard to comb-foundatiori, seo Chapter I. \•. :.■■;■■-. :v- ■ ~j: "Top or Surplus honey boxes can W mado,-. in..-., tho : same'-way,.'but will net require', 'a, bottom: ,■'; " When setting them' out for the bees tile hivos can bo,placed on four half-bricks, 0110 : at ofldh. Corntr. : ; or, • better. still, sink four < boor-bottles neck downwards in the ground,and set the hive 6n these. ■; 1 " Th<v: cost of this ■ outfit, - if-, settlermakes frames-and all, will bo under Is., after ■ paying,- :say,' 4d. for tho bn,\; and if tho frames aro purchased,'under 2s.'6d:, and his own labour." .