1148 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



prefer a crate. These (Fig. 22) sit just above the frames, in 

 the upper half story, and are very convenient. The bees can 

 not stick them so terribly tight as they do the frames in the 

 two-story hives, and it takes but a moment to lift off the upper 

 half story, remove the crate, and get to the bees in the brood- 

 chamber or lower story. Some bee-keepers hang frames on to 



the upper story, even when 

 it is only a half story. 



I think it is generally 

 more satisfactory to buy 

 our sections where they are 

 made by machinery, as they 

 will be more beautiful, and 

 FIG. 22. they can not be too nice. 



If we make our own hives, we shall need a circular saw. This 

 may run by steam, water, horse, wind, or foot power, as the ex- 

 tent of our business and our circumstances suggest. I have 

 found the Barnes Foot-power Saw very desirable to be used on 

 a small scale. 



LOCATION OF APIARY. To select a home, if the prospective 

 bee-keeper is not already located, is a matter worthy no little 

 thought. We should aim to locate in the midst of abundant 

 native honey plants of the best sorts, which shall furnish as 

 nearly as possible a constant succession of nectar-secreting bloom. 

 We should also obtain, if possible, a monopoly of these plants. 

 Six miles ought to intervene between large apiaries would we 

 secure the best results. Nearness to a market, or what will an- 

 swer nearly as well, to a depot or boat-landing, is also desirable. 

 If we are already located, and are not free to choose, we may 

 still rejoice in the fact that nearly every locality in the United 

 States is so rich in honey-plants that bees may be kept in it at 

 a fair profit. Bees are often kept by our most prosperous bee- 

 keepers in villages, or even in cities. C. F. Muth, the noted 

 apiarist of Cincinnati, keeps his bees on the roof of his store. 

 The special location of the apiary grounds is not material. The 

 ground should be dry, and so a slope to east, south, or west 

 is to be preferred, especially if the soil is wet and heavy. As 



