BEE CULTURE. 231 



be closed with a piece of tin, until the bottom of the hive is 

 filled with honey. In no case should the bees be permitted to 

 make honey for the use of their owners until they have filled 

 their own store-house with a winter's supply. The above 

 described hive is equally as good as a ten-dollar, patent one, and 

 will cost but a trifle. It affords a chance to get the surplus 

 honey without destroying the bees, and this is the only com- 

 mendable advantage of any of the patent articles. 



The Bee-house. — Where is the best place to set the hives ? 

 Some prefer placing them under the shade of a tree, upon 

 a form, without any other covering. Others think it best to 

 arrange them in a house or shed, closely enclosed on three 

 sides, with a roof above. About a middle course is evidently 

 the better way, viz. : a simple roof covering, open on all sides. 

 Bees want plenty of pure, fresh air. They will not thrive 

 without it. A bee-house enclosed on three sides is too close 

 and hot, and will not admit enough air. A simple roof 

 covering is all that is necessary, under which is a form for the 

 reception of the hives. The face of the hive should open 

 to the south, and should be placed, if possible, so that from ten 

 to two o'clock it may be shaded by some tree. All bee-hives, 

 during the summer months, should be elevated from the bottom 

 board on which they stand, at least half an inch. This can be 

 done by placing a wedge of wood under each corner of the 

 hive. Free ingress and egress are thus allowed, also fresh air, 

 and no lodging place for the eggs of the miller. 



The drawers should go in on the back part of the hive, so 

 that they can be approached without disturbing the bees, or 

 getting stung by them. 



Hiving the New Colonies. — Young swarms of bees begin 

 to leave the hive, usually about the middle of May. From one 

 to three young swarms go out in the course of six weeks from 

 a single, well-stocked hive. It requires some considerable tact 

 to hive the young swarms with success. They commonly leave 

 the old hive from between nine o'clock to three o'clock in the 

 afternoon. The day before swarming, they often forsake the 

 hive and hang out in a mass upon the sides or bottom of the 

 hive. Do not be in too great a hurry to secure them after they 

 alight; go to work steadily ; there will be plenty of time. Place 

 a table under the limb on which they have alighted, spread over 



