54 



THE FLORAL -WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



ground, or some other means of compelling the bees to see in front 

 of their hives human beings in motion frequently. Having thus 

 located them, they will become so tame that you may proceed to 

 practice Wildman's tricks, and become a great bee conjuror. 



Now vi-e come to the bee-shed. It is not absolutely necessary, 

 but very desirable, for bees need shelter from rain, sun, and wind. 

 As regards elevation and ornament I shall say nothing. As regards 

 construction it should be roomy, dry, with a secure roof, and closed 

 with wood- work all round, unless in a very sheltered spot, in which 

 case it may be quite open, consisting of roof only, and supporting 

 uprights, with a shelf for the hives. A small bee-house becomes so 

 liot in summer that the combs melt, and the bees are seriously in- 

 jured by their falling. My bee-shed is open at the back only, the 

 front and ends are closed because of the winds that occur on three 

 sides. A very convenient way to provide for the escape of the 

 bees is to have an opening the whole length in front opposite the stand 

 on which the hives are placed, and over tliis opening to hang a board 

 considerably wider than the opening itself, and two inches or so dis- 

 tant from it. The bees will go out and return above and below 

 tliis board, the house will be thoroughly ventilated, and neither wind 

 nor rain will drive in upon the hives. In case I am not understood 

 I will re-state the case by the aid of a diagram. Let A A be the 

 front, and B the board covering the opening ; C, the stand on which 

 the hives are placed. To hang the board B is but carpenters' work, 

 and its utility is I hope manifest. 



B 



C 



The Hives next demand attention. You will probably desire 

 some fanciful things with much glass, and many ornaments about 

 them. Now I have nothing to say against fanciful hives for those 

 who understand them, but as a rule they are quite uusuited to be- 

 ginners. You want simple service, and the bees are very simple 

 creatures, as ready to work in a washing tub or plain peck measure 

 as in the most fantastic "home of industry," with painted pinnacles 

 and peepshow windows ever held out to tempt the unwary. The 



