54 THE BEE-HOUSE. 



entrances are well sheltered, and accommodation 

 is afforded for the bees, when they are at any time 

 driven home, by stress of weather, in greater 

 numbers than can readily pass through the en- 

 trances into the boxes ; for on the approach of a 

 storm, the bees will sometimes return home from 

 the fields, in such numbers and with such precipi- 

 tation, as almost to block up the entrances into 

 the hives. 



The building is not only thatched on the top, 

 but down the sides and ends, as low as the pota- 

 toe-cellar. On that side where the bees enter the 

 boxes, the thatch of course terminates at the top 

 of the compartments, over which it is spread out 

 so as to conceal the slate coverings. The floor 

 of the bee-house is boarded and the potatoe-cellar 

 is ceiled, the space between the ceiling and the 

 floor above being filled with dry sawdust. The 

 door may be situated where most convenient ; but 

 the window or windows should be at one end or at 

 both ends, that the light may fall sideways on the 

 bee-boxes, and should be made to open, as in case 

 of any of the bees accidentally getting into the 

 bee-house, they may be let out more conveniently. 



It is necessary to have an extra entrance, or 

 rather an extra outlet, for discharging the bees 

 when the time of deprivation arrives, which will 

 be hereafter explained. My own outlet is placed 

 in a line with and between the lower tier of boxes. 



