184 THE APIARY. 



permanent shades should be erected, and the stands 

 so constructed as to admit the hives being moved for- 

 ward, to allow the sun to shine on them when the 

 weather is cool, or moved backwards when warm. 



STANDS FOR HIVES. 



Stools, made sixteen inches square and twelve 

 inches high, are the most convenient stands for set- 

 ting hives upon, as they admit of easy removal. 

 There should be two narrow boards bedded down in 

 the ground, for the stools to stand upon ; care should 

 be taken in all cases to have the hives kept perfectly 

 plumb, as the bees are then enabled to construct 

 their combs within the frames and parallel with the 

 sides of the hives. In dry situations, a board may 

 be laid on the ground, or elevated a few inches, for 

 the hives to stand upon. 



A stand made as follows, answers the purpose well. 

 For one twelve feet long, prepare ten stakes, made 

 of durable timber make them thirty inches long and 

 three inches in diameter sharpen one end and leave 

 the other square ; they are then to be driven into the 

 ground eighteen inches, set in pairs three feet apart, 

 and eighteen inches between stakes, forming two par- 

 allel lines ; a cap, three inches wide, one inch thick, 

 and twenty inches long, is nailed on the top of each 

 pair, making five bearings ; a plank, twelve feet long, 

 sixteen inches wide, and one inch thick, is then laid 

 on them -thus forming a stand for either five or six 

 hives. 



