256 THE bee-keeper's guide; 



trained to a trellis, which may be made by setting two posts, 

 either of cedar or oak. Let these extend four or five feet above 

 the ground, and be three or four feet apart. Two or three 

 supporting arms of narrow boards can be nailed at right 

 angles to a single post on which to train the vines, or we may 

 connect them at intervals of eighteen inches with three gal- 

 vanized wires, the last one being at the top of the posts. Thus 

 we can have shade and grapes, and can see for ourselves that 

 bees do not injure grapes. These should be at least six feet 

 apart. A. I. Root's idea of having the vine of each succeeding 

 row divide the spaces of the previous row, in quincunx order 

 (Fig. 120), is very good ; though I should prefer the rows in this 

 case to be four instead of three feet apart. I have tried grape- 

 vines and evergreens to shade hives, and do not like them. 

 They are too much in the way. Unless I can have a grove 

 trimmed high up I much prefer a simple shade-board as already 

 suggested. This is simply a wide board nailed to the edge of 

 two cross-boards, which are about four inches wide. I make 

 these eighteen inches wide by two feet long. I have some 

 even larger. If one cross-board is a little narrower it gives a 

 slant that insures a rapid removal of the water in a rain. I 

 have never known these shade-boards to blow off. Should 

 they do so a second board parallel to the shade-board could be 

 nailed to the cross-boards. A brick placed on this would make 

 all secure. This shade-board is inexpensive, always out of 

 the way, and ready for service. 



Many apiarists economize by using fruit-trees for shade, 

 which, from their spreading tops, serve well, though often 

 from their low branches they are not pleasant to work under. 

 Mr. Doolittle thinks if hives are painted white shade is unneces- 

 sary. Mr. A. I. Root's idea of having sawdust under and 

 about the hives has much to recommend it. The objection to 

 sawdust is the danger from fire. I have used sawdust, cement, 

 asphalt, etc. I think on the whole a fine grass lawn kept 

 closely and smoothly mown is as convenient as any plan, and 

 it certainly has taste and beauty to recommend it. If closely 

 mown, one will rarely lose a queen. While ashes or sawdust 

 make a queen walking upon them more conspicuous, I much 

 prefer the beautiful grass plat. 



