POSITION OF HIVE. 175 



Position of Hive. 



Most bee-keepers now keep the pure Italian 

 bees ; they are larger than the small black 

 English bee, and, being less irritable, are much 

 less trouble to handle. 



Sunshine, and especially that of the morning 

 sun, is most essential for the health and warmth 

 of all life in the country, whether plant life, 

 animal life, or human life. Bees are no excep- 

 tion to the rule ; therefore the best position for 

 a hive is facing south, with a point or so of east 

 in it. 



During the few weeks of hot weather it is 

 advisable that the bees should have some shade. 

 If this cannot be managed, the hive must be 

 painted a light stone colour, with a white roof. 



Do not place the hive close against a wall, 

 and have the front, where the bees enter the 

 hive, dry and firm and clear of grass and weeds. 

 This will be of great service to the bees, for 

 often, when they are coming home and are about 

 to enter the hive heavily laden with honey, the 

 wind will blow them on the ground, and if there 

 is damp grass at the entrance they will get 

 chilled and, being unable to enter the hive, die. 



Winter Food. 



If all the honey that the bees have collected 

 during the summer be taken from the hive, they 



