THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



211 



Do "We Want House Apiaries'? 



OLD TIMEB. 



[HAT depends. First and foremost, 

 we want uothiny by way of adjunct to 

 our business that involves the outlay 

 of much capital, as tlie present condition of 

 the honey market will not justify the invest- 

 ment. Nothing that does not, either direct- 

 ly or indirectly, embrace the volume or cer- 

 tainty of income, which requires any con- 

 siderable amount of money, will be indulged 

 in by the prudent apiarist whose bread and 

 butter depends on the products of his apiary. 



Years ago, when the house apiary problem 

 was iirst broached, the writer gave it careful 

 attention and thought he discovered many 

 advantages by its use. The absolute shelter 

 from storms, the luxury of being able to 

 manipulate bees with perfect freedom from 

 the aimoyance of robbers, the protection 

 afforded from the extremes of hot days and 

 cool nights, the security from loss of honey 

 by thieves, all seemed in favor of the house 

 apiary. Being located where lumber was 

 cheap and abundant, I built two of these 

 houses in the spring of 187G, each 12x25 feet 

 in size, at a cost of .$:>00. They were made 

 with six-incli, filled walls, were substantially 

 built, and would each accommodate r>2 colo- 

 nies. My anticipations regarding their desir- 

 ability in summer were fully realized, but 

 both were destroyed by fire the following 

 January, which gave me no opportunity to 

 test their capacity for carrying bees safely 

 through the winter. 



From former experience I am of the 

 opinion that where cheap lumber can be 

 obtained the house apiary can be made a 

 success. I would build them about 8x13 

 feet, with a single roof sloping to the south. 

 Such a house would accommodate 13 col- 

 onies, four on each end, and five on the 

 south side. If a double row were put in, 

 one above the other, the capacity may be 

 doubled; but as a matter of convenience, 

 and for speed in manipulation, the single 

 row is preferaljle, while economy would dic- 

 tate the larger number. Built of rough, un- 

 painted lumber, the cost of materials will 

 cost from ijilO up, according to location. 

 Anyone handy with tools can do the work 

 without the assistance of a carpenter. 



The projection of the roof will shade the 

 upper row of hives, if one is put in, while a 

 coui>le of boards, running lengthwise the 

 building, and nailed to figure 4 supports, 

 will ward off the sun's heat from the lower 



row. A loose floor above will give storage 

 room in the "attic," a convenience every 

 bee-keeper can appreciate. I would have 

 the door in the center of the north side. 

 Ventilators at each end are necessary in hot 

 weather. All things considered, single walls 

 are better than double, as they afford ample 

 protection, make a dryer room and are far 

 more cheaper. When built upon dry soil no 

 ground floor is necessary. 



The advantages of the house apiary are 

 many. Hives need no paint, no shade 

 boards are necessary. The absolute freedom 

 from annoyance \>y stings and robber bees 

 is something all can appreciate. I have 

 worked for days without veil or smoker, or 

 even without a hat, never receiving a sting. 

 Those who have never handled bees in such 

 buildings, where they are not compelled to 

 contend with the depressing influence of a 

 sultry summer's sun cannot realize their ad- 

 vantages in the way of manipulation, as the 

 amount of work that can be accomplished 

 in a day is simply surprising. The bees 

 cling quietly to the combs and seem to take 

 little notice of what is going on, especially 

 in the honey season. The only objections to 

 the house apiaries, so far as my experience 

 goes, are the cost and liability to loose young 

 queens when returning from their wedding 

 flight. The plan I have outlined overcomes 

 the first, and the second can easily be avoid- 

 ed by taking a little care in giving hive en- 

 trances a dissimiliar appearance. Where a 

 proper non-swarming system is followed 

 these little houses enable the specialist to 

 establish out-apiaries with much greater 

 security, largely augmenting his annual cash 

 income. July 27, 1891. 



Bee-Keepers' Review. 



PUBLISHED MONTHLY. 



W. Z. HUTCHlNSOrl, Ed. & PKop. 



Tehms : — $1.00 a year in a(lvanc(\ Two copies, 

 $1.90 ; threo for $2.70 ; five f<)i$4.<)0; ton, or more, 

 70 cents each. i^W Tlie Keview is stopped at 

 the expiration of the time paid for. 



FUNT, MICHIGAN, AUGUST 10, 1891. 



I HAVE DECIDED to make an exhibit at 

 the Detroit Exposition, also at our State 

 fair. This will make the September Review 

 a little late. 



