162 SMALL ANIMALS AND INSECTS. [Chap. II. 



wc certainly have seen some most successful bee-keeping -where the swarms 

 were kept only in that rough way. 



'216. iVherc lo Korp liivfs. — The location and mode of support are im- 

 portant matters in placing bee hives. And here again, the most " rough 

 and ready" way has always appeared to be the best. "We have frequently 

 seen the hives standing about here and there, without any regard to order : 

 some directly on the ground, and some on a flat stone or board ; notwith- 

 standing such apparent disregard to all care, the bees were doing better than 

 others where every attention was paid to them. We do not advocate quite 

 BO mucli negligence, but we do believe the best situation for hives is in an 

 open field, set a rod or two apart, or, rather, suspended to stakes. An 

 orcliard, where the trees are somewhat scattering, and the grass short, or kept 

 short by mowing or pasturaga of some geese, turkeys, or sheep, is a good 

 place for bee-hives, one under each tree. A hive may be fastened to a tree 

 or post by two hooks and staples, care being taken to fi.x it so it will be firm, 

 and not liabje to be shaken by wind. It may also be fixed upon two stakes 

 set in the ground just wide enough apart for the hive to slip in between 

 them and rest upon a block nailed upon each side of the hive, notched on 

 the lower edge so as to clasp tlie top of the stake to prevent slipping side- 

 wise. Hives placed about in the open ground should have a board laid 

 over the top, wide enough to give some shade to the hive. Lay this board 

 on four pebbles, or four nails driven in to keep it half an inch or an inch 

 from the top. This shade-board may be held in its place by a screw or nail, 

 or a stone. The hive need not be placed more than six inches from the 

 ground. A little strip, an inch wide, should be nailed on level with the 

 entrance holes, for the bees to alight upon. 



If hives are placed under a shady tree, they will need no other protection. 

 If placed close together, a rough shed may be built over a row of hives, so 

 placed that it will shade them from nine till four o'clock in the day. A hive 

 should be painted white, because that color does not absorb the rays of heat 

 as much as a dark color. Sometimes a hive becomes heated so as to soften 

 the cement, and let the comb fall to the bottom. 



217. Swarming. — ^The location of bee-hives should be convenient to low 

 bushes, such as lilacs, altheas, or small peach or plum trees, for them to 

 light upon when swarming. "We have heard of clustering bees upon a large 

 wonleti stocking, stretched over the end of a pole, and held up in the midst 

 of tiie swarm as they collected after leaving the hive. When all have been 

 gathered in the cluster, it is gently laid upon the table and the pole with- 

 drawn, and a hive set over the bees. After they go up into the hive, the 

 stocking is taken awaj% 



Swarming is just as natural for bees as calving for cows. It increases 

 the stock. The process can not be interfered with advantageously, either to 

 retard or increase the operation. 



The owner of bees should make them as well acquainted with his person 

 as his horse or dog is, and then he can handle them as easily. 



