THE APIABY. 77 



the hive, and stimulates early breeding at a season when 

 it is of most importance. 



It is unquestionable that, in the very hottest weather, 

 the shade of trees would be very grateful and desirable, 

 but, considering the average of cool weather through the 

 season, I conceive it to be detrimental rather than other- 

 wise. In southern latitudes, shade may be more essential. 



BEE HOUSES, 



Bee houses, as used in times past, have long been con- 

 demned as useless and undesirable. "When box hives 

 were alone used, and the bees were not manipulated as at 

 the present day, such houses more nearly met the simpler 

 demands of those times ; yet even then, the rays of the 

 sun were nearly excluded, with many accompanying dis- 

 advantages. 



THE HOUSE APIAET. 



More recently what is known as the House Apiary (fig. 

 19), has been devised for movable comb-hives. Mr. Coe, 

 of New Jersey, has designed a form of it, which he claims 

 to possess much merit. One of these was erected at the 

 Centennial Exhibition, and was an object of much inter- 

 est to apiarian visitors. It may be of any desired size 

 and in shape, square, oblong, hexagonal, or octagonal, as 

 may be preferred. A house 9x15 feet will hold 44 hives, 

 and one 11x34 will contain 100 hives. 



It is tightly enclosed on all sides, the hives being 

 arranged on shelves next the walls inside, the bees enter- 

 ing through small openings. It is true that bees may 

 be handled inside of these houses, in rainy weather, or 

 when they would be liable to rob out of doors. One of 

 the benefits claimed is, that swarming may be more easily 

 controlled. 



So far as I have investigated the details of construction^ 

 I find that the shelves holding the hives are attached to 



