BEES. 
Lt 
Hives should be painted to protect them from the weather. It 
is usually desirable to use white paint to prevent excessive heat in 
the colony during hot weather. 
Other light colors are satisfactory, 
but it is best to avoid red or black. 
HIVE STANDS. 
Generally it is best to have each 
hive on a separate stand. The 
entrance should be lower than any 
other part of the hive. Stands of 
wood, bricks, tile (fig. 2), concrete 
blocks, or any other convenient 
material will answer the purpose. 
The hive should be raised above 
the ground, so that the bottom 
will not rot. It is usually not nec- 
Fig. 3.—Smoker. 
essary to raise the hive more than a few inches. Where ants are a 
nuisance special hive stands are sometimes necessary. 
OTHER APPARATUS. 
In addition to the hives in which the bees are kept some other 
apparatus is necessary. A good smoker to quiet the bees (fig. 3), 
Fic. 4.—Bee veil with silk-tulle front. 
consisting of a tin or copper 
receptacle to hold burning 
rotten wood or other mate- 
rial, with a bellows attached, 
is indispensable. A veil of 
black material, preferably 
with a black silk-tulle front 
(fig.4), should beused. Black 
wire-cloth veils are also ex- 
cellent. Even if a veil is not 
always used, it is desirable 
to have one at hand in case 
the bees become cross. Cloth 
or leather gloves are some- 
times used to protect the 
hands, but they hinder most 
manipulations. Some sort of 
tool (fig. 5) to pry hive coy- 
ers loose and frames apart 
is desirable. A screwdriver will answer, but any of the tools made 
especially for that purpose is perhaps better. Division boards 
447 
