THE PRACTICAL COUNTRY GENTLEMAN 



suit for damages from bee-stings. In placing 

 the hives in the orchard, if the trees are large, 

 four or five hives may be placed under each. 

 Two hives are enough to go under the smaller 

 trees. Set them on the north side so that they 

 will get the early morning and the afternoon 

 sun. Too much shade is bad, as likewise is too 

 little. A good windbreak will prove a great 

 help in keeping the hives warm in the early 

 spring and fall. The hives should not rest on 

 the ground on account of dampness. 



Bees are divided Into two classes, workers and 

 drones. The Italians are the most profitable 

 and the easiest to handle, as they are very gentle. 

 Many bee-raisers work among their swarms of 

 Italians without any protection. The Italian 

 worker-bee has a distinguishing characteristic, 

 namely, three yellow bands, the first next to the 

 waist and very plainly seen; then a thin black 

 band, followed by a broader yellow stripe, an- 

 other thin black stripe, then the broadest yellow 

 band of all. The workers make all the honey 

 and usually work themselves to death In about 

 three months. The drones live as a rule a 

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