260 EVERY MAN HIS OWN FARRIER 



up. To the west, it would be desirable to have a 

 shrubbery, a wood, a broomy common, or heather 

 moor. 



The stations for the hives must be six yards 

 asunder, and never nearer than three yards. The 

 board on which they are placed ought to be of one 

 piece; or if joined, the under side of the joining should 

 be lined with a thinner board fixed closely with wooden 

 pins. The edges of this rounded standard should pro- 

 ject four inches all round from the hive. Place it on 

 three wooden pillars sixteen inches long, ten inches 

 above the ground, but six inches of its length should 

 be firmly thrust into the earth, in all its length to be 

 sixteen inches. The pillar in front should be an inch 

 shorter than the other two, and the three pillars should 

 be within twelve or fourteen inches of the outer edge 

 of the board, to exclude rats and mice. For the same 

 reason no tall growing plant, no wall, nor any means 

 for ascent should be within three or four feet of the 

 hive. In fine weather, the entrance to the hive must 

 be four inches long, and an inch and a half in depth. 



In the beginning of the fine season, when the bees 

 can get food, or have stores remaining, the bee-master 

 has nothing to do but to keep the ground about the 

 hive clear from weeds, and from whatever might ena- 

 ble vermin to climb there. Yet as a thriving stock 

 inclines very soon to swarm, the hives must be fre- 

 quently looked after, from eight in the morning till 

 five in the afternoon. The symptoms are generally 

 thus : The little city seems crowded. with inhabitants. — 

 They are continually in motion during the day ; and 

 after working time, they make loud noises. The 

 drones may be seen flying about in the heat of the 

 day, and the working bees go with a reeling motion 

 and busy hum. When the bees come regularly out 



