io8 First Annual Report 



they can collect; 9th, completely ventilated that the bees may not suffocate, 

 and thousands of them hang on the outside of the hive for air on a hot day; 

 loth, that all the heat from the hive may enter the surplus honey boxes or 

 chamber, to enable the bees to elaborate wax and make comb; nth, that in 

 case the bees are carrying in honey very rapidly, one set of boxes may be 

 raised and another set placed under them; 12th, that there be no place in 

 the hive where the miller moth can conceal itself; 13th, that there be no 

 space between the top of the combs and bottom of the honey boxes except a 

 single quarter of an inch ; 14th, that the bees may enter the surplus honey 

 boxes from any part of the hive without creeping through a hole in the 

 honey board; 15th, that all openings of the hive be guarded with a slide or 

 button; i6th, that the boxes be covered with a light cap to exclude the chilly 

 air at night as well as the excessive heat of the noonday sun, with a ventila- 

 tion at each end to be opened on hot days and allow a current of air to pass 

 over the honey boxes, permitting the excessive heat of the hive to escape in 

 summer and in winter to carry off the moisture generated by the bees. 



THE APIARY. 



The next thing in importance is the location of the apiary. Select, if 

 possible, a sheltered place, shaded somewhat by trees, with an eastern or 

 southern aspect, where they can be easily seen or heard from the house dur- 

 ing swarming season. As regards the distance between the stands it should 

 be as great as circumstances will admit — two feet being the nearest they 

 should be placed. 



STANDS FOR HIVES 



Is a subject to which too much attention cannot be given. Placing them 

 several feet above the ground makes an unnecssary labor for the bees return- 

 ing weary and heavy laden, with barely strength to reach the hive, they 

 alight upon the ground, and if toward evening when cool and damp, often 

 perish. Others have no projection from the entrance upon which to alight, 

 but expect them to fly direct from the field into the hive, without making a 

 pause . 



PROCURING BEES TO STOCK AN APIARY. 



It is presumed that a beginner desi-res to obtain a quantity of bees for an 

 apiary. He has the location selected; has obtained, what appears to him, 

 the best hive, and now it remains to procure occupants for those hives. He 

 may purchase a colony that threw off a swarm the year before, as then he 

 would be quite sure of getting a young queen; whereas, if the stock is of the 

 current year, he would very probably have an old one, and in one or two 

 years discover, to his great surprise, that his swarm was gradually decreasing 

 in numbers, with a fair prospect of being utterly lost ; or, should there be a 

 swarm thrown off accompanied by the old queen, as is usually the case, the 

 new one would in a short time dwindle down to a mere handful of bees. 



