12 



THE A3IEBIGAN APICULTURIST. 



WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE LOCALITY 

 AND WHAT SHOULD NOT. 



In the vicinity of the apiary 

 there should be small brooks ; par- 

 ticularly are manure heaps and 

 pools useful to the bees, from which 

 they procure the salt-petre in solu- 

 tion, which they also obtain from 

 freshly-upturned soil, from walls, 

 and oftener from unclean sources 

 but which is almost a necessity. 

 Much more unpleasant and des- 

 tructive is the smoke which comes 

 from a bakery, brewer}?-, smelting 

 house or chimney and which can 

 reach them. Bad odors, jiarticu- 

 larly from dead and decaying bod- 

 ies, must not be permitted in the 

 vicinity of the apiary. Near mills 

 the bees must be so placed that no 

 dust can reach them, which woidd 

 cause the honey to ferment and 

 spoil. 



THE POSITION OF THE COLONY. 



The colony itself must be placed 

 so as to be protected from wind, 

 especially the north wind, becanse 

 of cold, and if possible from the 

 west evening wind to keep the rain 

 from beating against the hive. 

 This may be done through shelter 

 from brick houses, or where the 

 lay of the place will prevent these 

 winds, through fences of board or 

 stone. One, however, must see 

 that a narrow path is left between 

 the wall and the hives, so as to per- 

 mit handling the bees from the 

 rear which if not imperative is at 

 least very desirable. 



Before all other things, it is how- 

 ever, necessary in starting an api- 

 ary, to see that it has a dry and 



warm location. This is a matter 

 whicli has much to do with the suc- 

 cess of the apiary. This warm lo- 

 calit}', however, does not depend 

 upon the sun always shining upon 

 the skeps during summer, that it 

 faces the south, etc. This may all 

 be, and still the location be a win- 

 tery and damp one, which is very 

 injurious to the bees. The place 

 may be situated low and continue 

 colder in the spring because the 

 warm air has not access, or because 

 of buildings, fences, trees, etc. ; 

 consequently the ground remains 

 cold and chills the atmosphere for 

 some distance above it. This is 

 why the snow remains longer in 

 such localities than in neighboring 

 more elevated and open positions. 

 A colony may be in a cold posi- 

 tion through being placed on a 

 bleak hill or where there is a con- 

 stant draught, or so as to increase 

 the draught if it comes from the 

 northeast or east northeast. Thick 

 large stone walls, immediately be- 

 hind the bees, give out much cold 

 air in the spring, cause dampness, 

 etc. 



Such cold locations are very det- 

 rimental to the success of an api- 

 ary, and if in addition to this they 

 are damp they are positively in- 

 jurious. A friend in the neigh- 

 borhood some years ago complained 

 to me that his bees would not 

 thrive. They would neither give 

 him swarms or honey and most ab- 

 sconded. I examined his location 

 which was very nicely and well ar- 

 ranged but cold. After changing 

 it only thirty paces the bees have 

 done exceedingly well. The warmer 



