Woodbury’s Glass Bar and Frame Hives
Some bee-keepers like to be able to make a full and daily inspection of the hive; we have, therefore, prepared a few hives, constructed of wooden frames, enclosed on all sides and on the top with window-glass. The dimensions are precisely the same as those before mentioned, and allow the same number of bars and frames (ten). The crown has a round hole cut in the glass to admit of feeding. The four sides are constructed of double glass, to preserve the bees from variations of temperature. We cannot, however, recommend this hive for a winter residence for the bees; we should prefer lifting the combs out with the bees, and placing them in a straw hive of similar construction, to pass through the ordeal of the winter season. A stock of bees might be kept through the year in a hive of this kind, but would require well wrapping round to keep out the cold. There should be a small glass over the hole at top, so as to allow the moisture to arise and condense, instead of doing so in the hive. The operation of exchanging the hive is so easy, that we should be content to place a stock in one, say, from April to September, and shift it in the autumn. Such a hive is a very pleasing object of interest, as in it the whole commonwealth of bees is exposed, to view; and the hive need not be obscured from daylight, provided it be protected from sun and rain. All the external wood-work is of oak-colour, varnished, so that the appearance of the Glass Bar and Frame Hive is extremely neat and much approved of.