166 APIARIES. 



Transversas salices, et grandia conjice saxa : 

 Pontibus ut crebris possint consistere, et alas 

 Pandere ad sestivum solem ; si forte morantes 

 Sparserit, aut prseceps Neptuno immerserit Eurus. 

 Haec circum casiae virides, et olentia late 

 Serpylla et graviter spirantis copia thymbrae 

 Floreat : irriguumque bibant violaria fontem. 



Georg. Iv. 



Hives are found of almost all shapes and sizes, and 

 of various materials circumstances influenced some- 

 times by convenience, but oftener by the taste and 

 fancy of the owners. In France, particularly, where 

 the culture of the Bee has been much attended to, 

 the variety of hives is very great ; but with few ex- 

 ceptions, they appear to be remarkably deficient in 

 simplicity. This is an important point to be attended 

 to, both as regards the accommodation of the bees, 

 and the convenience of the Bee-master. As far as 

 respects the mere collection and storing of the honey, 

 the kind of hive is but of secondary importance. If 

 the season be propitious, and the country rich in 

 flowers, the industrious collectors will cheerfully de- 

 posit the fruit of their labours in any moderate sized 

 receptacle that appears to afford security and shelter. 

 It is the interest of the owner, however, to ascertain 

 what material and construction will answer best for 

 sustaining an equable temperature during the heats 

 of summer, and most effectually secure the comfort 

 of the inmates during the severity of winter. And, 

 besides these indispensable requisites, there are other 

 considerations to be attended to in the structure of 

 hives which, to the Naturalist and Amaxeur, are 



