A MONTHLY JOURNAL 



Devoted to the Interests of Honey Producers. 

 $L00 A YEAR. 

 w. z, HDTCHiNSflN. Editor and Proprieloi 



VOL. XVII. FLINT, MICHIGAN, DEC. 15, 1904. NO. 12. 



lTl©ta^e°AiplarSeSo 



BY FRED H. LOUGKS. 



rnO start with, a bee-keeper usually 

 T would ask, why have a house- 

 apiary at all ? 



ADVANTAGES OF A HOUSR-APIARY — ES- 

 PECIALLY FOR AN OUT-APIARY. 



There are several reasons why the 

 house-apiary, especially at an out- 

 yard, is very desirable. Here are 

 some of its advantages: Security from 

 thieving boys, its use as a store-house 

 for supplies, implements, etc., the 

 shelter it affords, to bees and operator, 

 from the scalding- sun or drenching 

 rain, the evennessof temperature main- 

 tained in the spring, thus forcing 

 brood rearing rapidl3', the avoidance 

 of at least one-half the stings, the op- 

 portunity for doing double the amount 

 of work in a given length of time, and, 

 lastly, the greater amount of work 

 done by the bees. While I do not un- 

 reservedly advise house-apiaries for 

 the home yard, yet for the out-yard, I 

 think the}^ are just grand. 



CHOOSING A SITE FOR AN OUT-APIARY. 



The first step is the choosing of a 

 site, and this is very important. Go 

 slow; study the soil; the lay of the 

 land; the winds; the neighboring peo- 

 ple; and, especially, the pasturage. 

 If possible get in range of a large 

 variety of honey plants; and don't 

 figure on your bees working advan- 

 tageously more than 1>^ miles in a 

 straight line from their hives. Look 

 for early and late blossom; early, pol- 

 len-bearing plants will help greatly to 

 build up the bees in the spring. My 

 East Martinsburg house-apiary has a 

 creek running within 20 feet of it, 

 with tag alders along its banks, and 

 these bees always build up faster than 

 any others I have. I think it is be- 

 cause the pollen supply is so near. 



The spot where the building is going 

 to stand should, if possible, slope gently 

 towards the east, as this is a warmer 

 lay in the spring- months. I would 



