BEES. 87 



recommended j but there appears no objection to a direct 

 southern one, if you take care that the fierce rays of the 

 meridian sun shall not stream upon the poor perspiring- bees 

 in summer, and if you take care to prevent its perfidious rays 

 in winter from wooing the bees forth in the delusion that, as 

 the old song- says, — 



" Summer is ycoming in, 

 Loud sing cuckoo ; " 



and then leaving thorn before they have got back to the 

 hive, chilled and hungry, no flowers to be seen, dropping- 

 down at last in their exhaustion to rise no more. 



The hive should always, if possible, be placed so as to be 

 free from the first rays of the morning- sun, as the bees are 

 sometimes tempted out too early, and tire themselves before 

 the flowers are fairly opened. More real work appears, 

 from the experience of a well-known entomologist, to be 

 done between eight o'clock a. m. and twelve than in the 

 whole of the day beside. The vicinity of high trees should 

 be avoided, as although they afford shelter from the wind, 

 yet they are apt to prove the destruction of the bees, 

 who are blown among- their branches, and beaten down by 

 the twigs. Moreover should a swarm by any accident 

 escape, and settle upon a lofty branch, it will not be a very 

 easy matter to capture it. Whatever trees are placed near 

 the hives should be low, and if possible bushy. The bees 

 should be provided with water as near their hives as pos- 

 sible. A very shallow, gravel-bedded brook is§the best 

 thing they can have ; but if this is not attainable, several 

 flat plans filled with water, should be placed near the Ifives 

 and resting-places formed for the bees by a number of peb- 

 bles on M'hich they can sit. A little salt occasionally 

 dissolved in the water will be found advisable. Of course 

 it will be found very usuiid to plant near the hive the plants 

 mentioned on p. 75, to which may be added mustard, single 

 roses, sage, radishes, parsley, peas, marigolds, parsnips, 

 lily, privet, &c. The last-mentioned shrub is also an ex- 

 cellent one for shelter to the bees, as the twigs keep them- 

 selves in due bounds, and do not whip down the wearied 

 bees in a high wind. Lime-trees are also excellent npigh- 

 bours, as the leaves are at certain times of the yeai* covered 



