H » AN EASY METHOD OF 



as to suspend them in the air some distance 

 firom the floor of the apiary, the better to se- 

 cure the bees from destruction by mice, rep- 

 tiles, and other vermin. 



The back side or rear of the lower apart- 

 ment of the hive should slant forward, so as 

 to render the same smallest at the bottom, the 

 better to secure the combs from falling when 

 cracked by frost or nearly melted in hot 

 weather. 



No timbers or boards should be placed very 

 near the lower edge of the hive, because it fa- 

 cilitates the entrance of depredators. That 

 the back side should slant forward, is obvious 

 from the fact, that bees generally rest one 

 edge of their combs on that side, and build 

 towards the front in such a manner as to en- 

 ter upon the same sheet where they intend to* 

 deposit their stores, when they first enter the 

 hive, without being compelled to take any un- 

 necessary steps. 



The bottom of the hive should slant down- 

 ward from rear to front,, so as to afford the 

 greatest facility to the bees to clear thei? ten- 



