30 A. AND M. COLLEGE APIARY. 



the honey season, and from this number of frames on down w one or two, 

 in the case of a dearth of honey. During the winter season very little or 

 no brood will be found. In cases of severe drouth, also, the queen some- 

 times entirely ceases egg deposition. 



After examining the colony the frames should be replaced in the same 

 order in which they were previous to dpening in order that the brood 

 nest of the queen shall not be disorganized. Having the frames all 

 replaced, push them over against one side of the hive, as close as they will 

 go, and as close to each other as the Y-shaped projections will allow. 

 They will then be correctly- "spaced" without further attention. This 

 will of course apply only to the Hoffman or other self-spacing frame. 

 In some localities the "all-wood" frame is used extensively. These lat- 

 ter are not provided with any self-spacing device and must be placed the 

 proper distance apart (one-fourth inch) by the operator. Their only 

 advantage lies in the fact that they are a trifle .cheaper than the Hoffman 

 frame, but the time lost in spacing them correctly is worth more than 

 the additional cost of the Hoffman. The hive after each opening should 



Fig. 10 Hive stand. (After A. I. Root Co.) 



Fig. 11. Combined bottom board and hive stand. 

 (After A. I. Root Co.) 



be carefully closed, pains being taken to see that no cracks or openings 

 are left between the hive and cover through which robbers might enter. 

 In windy weather a brick or rock should be placed on top of cover. 



LOCATION OF HIVES AND APIARY. 



The best location for an apiary is in a shady grove of deciduous trees, 

 where the branches are sufficiently high so as not to interfere with the 

 flight of the bees, or to catch upon the veil, or in any way interfere with 

 the work about the apiary. A peach orchard is an ideal location, care 

 being taken to have each hive located upon the north side of a tree or 

 bush so that it will be shaded during the greater part of the day. Each 

 hive should be slightly raised from the ground, either by means of bricks 

 or scantlings, or, better still, by a hive-stand, such as is shown in Fig. 10. 

 The hive should also slope towards the front or entrance a drop of 

 one-half to one inch being sufficient. A "combined bottom-board and 

 hive-stand" (see Fig. 11) is used by many bee keepers. With this the 

 hive may be set level, and yet the inclined bottom-board will give the nec- 

 essary slope to carry off all water that may enter the hive during rains. 

 All grass and weeds around the hive, and especially in front of the en- 



