342 



SCIENCE OF GARDENING. 



Part II. 



292 



1 734. The apiary, or bee-house. The sim- 

 plest form of a bee-house consists of a few 

 shelves in a recess of a wall or other building 

 (Jig. 292.) exposed to the south, and with 

 or without shutters, to exclude the sun in 

 summer, and, in part, the frost in winter. 

 The scientific or experimental bee-house is a 

 detached building of boards, differing from 

 the former in having doors behind, which 

 may be opened at any time during day to 

 inspect the hives. In both kinds of houses, 

 small holes, say half an inch high and three 

 inches wide, with a small projection as a 

 landing-place, are made in the front shutters, opposite the situation of each hive on the 

 shelf. The upper part of these openings or entrances is sometimes guarded by a hori- 

 zontal fillet to throw off the rain. Bee-houses may always be rendered agreeable, and 

 often ornamental objects : they are particularly suitable for flower-gardens ; and one 

 may occur in a recess in a wood or copse, accompanied by a picturesque cottage and 

 flower-garden. They enliven a kitchen-garden, and communicate particular impressions 

 of industry and usefulness. 



1735. The position of the apiary is thus treated by Huish : in the southern countries 

 the aspect which is preferred is always to the eastward ; in the northern countries, it is 

 always to the eastward and the southward ; but in England little or no attention is paid 

 to the aspect. It is certain, however, that the aspect of the apiary should vary with the 

 climate of the country ; and in this climate, there can be little doubt that two points to 

 the eastward of south, is the best. 



Protection from high winds is essential in whatever position the hives are placed. In this country, 

 therefore, a protection from the south-west is advisable. The high winds not only prevent the bees from 

 leavihg the hive in quest of honey, but they also surprise them in the fields, and often kill them by dashing 

 them against the trees and rocks, or into the rivers. 



The hives in an apiary should always be placed in a right line ; but should the number of the hives be 

 great, and the situation not capacious enough to admit of their being placed longitudinally, it is more ad- 

 visable to place them over one another, on shelves, than in double rows on the ground. A bee, on leaving 

 the hive, generally forms an angle of about forty-five with the horizon ; the elevation of the hive should, 

 therefore, be about two feet from the ground, in order to protect it from humidity. The greater the 

 elevation of the hive, the longer is the flight of the swarm; and when they are at a certain point of 

 elevation, the swarms are lost for ever to the proprietor. If the hives are to be placed in a double row, 

 the hinder ones should alternate with, and be placed at, such a distance from the front ones, that when 

 the bees take their flight, no obstruction is offered to their ascent. 



Placing several hives upon the same bench, is very injurious, and during the swarming season, it is often 

 attended with very destructive consequences. Huish was once requested by a gentleman to perform an 

 experiment upon a hive, which was placed on the same bench with six others, and in attempting to move 

 the hive destined for the operation, the others were agitated, and the whole apiary became in a little time 

 in a state of confusion. The easy access also, which the bees of one hive have to those of another, pro- 

 motes quarrels and murderous battles. It is an erroneous opinion, though held by some skilful apiarians, 

 that all the bees of one apiary know each other, and that it is only the bees of a foreign apiary, with 

 whom they quarrel. Huish having been often witness of the destructive animosity of these little insects, 

 and the wars which they wage upon the weaker hives in their own establishment, endeavours to impress 

 it strongly upon the attention of every apiarian, to place every hive upon a respective pedestal. In general 

 a post is placed at each corner of the stand, as some prejudiced people believe that a hive stands firmer 

 upon four feet than upon one ; but Huish is certain that they who have once used the single pedestal, 

 will never have recourse again to the four-legged stool. Another advantage particularly arises from the 

 use of a single pedestal, which is, that the hive may be chained down and locked. 



The apiary should be kept particularly clean; all noxious weeds carefully removed, and no rubbish" be 

 left in which the enemies of the bees can conceal themselves. A few low trees or shrubs, planted in the 

 vicinity of the apiary, will be found useful in arresting the flight of the swarms, for they very often 

 alight on espalier trees, or on currant and gooseberry bushes. It is essential, however, to observe, that 

 the apiary should not be incommoded with herbs or plants, which rise to a height equal to, or exceeding 

 the entrance of the hive ; because the bees, on their arrival from their journeys, being much fatigued, 

 are impeded by these plants, and regain their habitation with difficulty. If they touch these plants on 

 passing, they often fall to the ground, and become victims to their enemies, or are unfortunately trodden 

 under foot. Such plants also serve the purpose of a ladder, for the enemies of the bees to ascend into the 

 hive, and especially the ants, which in some districts are particularly numerous. These little insects are 

 a great detriment to a hive, and they baffle the most vigilant attention of the apiarian to prevent their 

 depredations. I have found that a small leaden reservoir of water, encircling the bottom of the pedestal, 

 is of great service in preventing the ascent of these insects. 



The vicinity of great towns is not a proper situation for an apiary. The smoke of a city is very detri- 

 mental to bees, and the chimneys are in general the resort of the swallows and martins, who are great 

 destroyers of these insects. 



The proximity of a large river is also injurious, as the bees in their homeward flight are often dashed 

 into it by the high winds, or fall into it from fatigue. 



1736. The position of hives, according to Dr. Howison, should be such as to receive the rays of the 

 rising as well as meridian sun ; heat and light appearing the principal stimulants to the action of bees. 

 A hive so situated as not to be touched by the sun until some hours later than the other hives in the same 

 garden, would, in the course of the season, lose a proportional number of days' labor. Hives should stand 

 at some distance from walls and hedges. When lately building a garden-wall, with a good exposure for 

 bees, I ordered a number of niches to be made, into which I afterwards put hives. These were, however, 

 so much infested with snails in summer, and mice in winter, that I was under the necessity of removing 

 them to a more open situation. 



