CHAPTER XIV. 



BEE-KEEPING IN HOT CLIMATES. 



Thick Wood should be used for the construction of 

 Bee-hives in Hot Climates. 



The first thing to note in keeping bees in hot climates is 

 that the wood of which the bee-hives are made should be 

 thick — at least | inch or 1 inch thick — firstly as being less 

 liable to warp under the fierce rays of the sun, and secondly 

 as affording more protection to the bees from the heat. 



More attention also is necessary in shading hives that are 

 very much exposed to the sun, and it is desirable whenever 

 possible in arranging an apiary to keep the hives under the 

 sheltering shade of trees and shrubs. 



Frequent Removal of Surplus Honey is advisable. 



In many parts of Australia and Africa, where the honey 

 flow lasts practically throughout the year, it is found very 

 necessary to remove the honey at frequent intervals, or the 

 bees apparently become accustomed to the unfailing supply of 

 their wants from field or veldt at every period of the year, and 

 often show a tendency to gather but little surplus beyond 

 their everyday requirements. 



The Best Method of artificially increasing the Number 

 of Stocks of Bees in Hot Climates. 



In warm climates, where the honey flow lasts for many 

 months out of each year, the number of our colonies of 

 bees can be increased with much greater ease than in the 

 cold climate of Great Britain, with its comparatively short 

 honey flow. In these warm parts only a few hundred bees 

 are required in each nucleus to insure the mating of the 

 queens, provided that robbing is carefully guarded against ; 

 and the nuclei can subsequently be built up into strong 



