FARMER'S MANUAL; *63 



his flight from the hive, generally takes an elevation 

 of 45 degrees with the horizon, therefore, the hives 

 should stand low, say two feet from the ground. 

 This elevation will guard the Bees against the mois- 

 ture of the ground, the toads, mice, ants, &c. and 

 prevent their gaining such an ascent in their flight, 

 when they swarm, as to prevent ther lighting, and 

 thus occasion their loss to the proprietor. To esta- 

 blish this remark, Mr. Huish cites a memoir address- 

 ed to the Society of Agriculture of Paris, illustrating 

 the fact. He then observes, that the board on which 

 the hive stands, should be carefully secured against 

 warping, as the wasps, &c. will rob the hives at such 

 openings, under the bottoms of the hives, and that 

 every shrub, plant, or weed, should be cleared away 

 from the Apiary, that can obstruct the flight of th& 

 Bees, or give the mouse, the ant, &c. access to the 

 hive ; that great cleanliness should be observed in 

 and about the Apiary, generally. He concludes, that 

 the neighbourhood of large towns, and large rivers, 

 are unfavourable situations for an Apiary ; the first, 

 from the destruction the Bees suffer from smoke, the 

 swallows, particularly the chimney swallows, and the 

 last, from often being drowned in their flight, from 

 high winds, &c. He recommends an open country, 

 a free air, an eastern aspect, security from winds and 

 moisture, &c. as being essential to the position of an 

 Apiary. 



CHAP. VII. 



On the enemies of the Bees. 



Man, the worst enemy of the Bee; where he uses 

 the siv.othering method of robbing the hives ; yes, 

 man, that boasted child of reason, for whose enjoy- 

 ment the Bee toils through her life, to draw from nar- 



