APIARY AND ITS ARRANGEMENT 15 



for the purpose) in order to ensure straight combs and 

 perfectly even sections. In comb building, the bees 

 suspend themselves in a cluster, this cluster gradually 

 descending as the comb progresses towards completion, 

 thus forming a natural plumb-line of bees. 



The hives may be placed from three to six feet apart ; 

 avoid straight rows of strictly equidistant hives. Place, 

 say, a couple four feet apart, then perhaps an odd one 

 some six or eight feet away, then again a group of 

 three, and so on according to situation and the number 

 of colonies kept. 



Shelter from the north and east is desirable when 

 possible, and if due care be taken that the bees are in 

 no way impeded in their flight, fruit trees together with 

 small bush fruits give desirable shade and shelter, be- 

 sides forming sources of early pollen and honey, and 

 convenient alighting places should swarms unfortunately 

 occur. 



The hives should not be situated too near a public 

 thoroughfare ; at the same time avoid a too remote situ- 

 ation. There is a marked difference in the behaviour 

 betwixt bees who are habitually accustomed to people 

 walking amongst their hives, and those who scarce ever 

 see a human being. 



Water should be provided, especially in the spring- 

 time. A jar full of water (containing a pinch of salt) 

 inverted over a plate constitutes a ready means of sup- 

 plying this necessity. Bees, unlike flies, readily drown 

 themselves, and to obviate this, place small pebbles 

 around the inverted jar so as to form convenient alight- 

 ing places. 



