248 THE APIARY, 



placing- new honey on the breakfast tables at hotels in 

 that country. 



Some writers on bee-culture attach much importance 

 to the particular position in which an apiary stands, and 

 flie aspect towards which it faces. A southern, or rather 

 a south-eastern aspect, is the one which we have already 

 recommended. Our reason for this preference is, that 

 we deem it very important for the bees to have the first 

 of the morning- sun. Bees are early risers, and should 

 have every inducement given them for the maintenance 

 of so excellent a practice. A few years since, many 

 strong opinions were expressed in favour of a northern 

 aspect for hives. The chief reason given for those 

 opinions, though very plausible, appears' to us to be a 

 very partial and inadequate one. It was said that, when 

 the hives face the south, the bees may, like the incautious 

 swallow in the fable, be tempted to fly abroad in the 

 transient winter sunshine, and then perish in the freezing 

 atmosphere when a passing cloud intervenes. But it is 

 a very easy matter, if considered needful, to screen the 

 entrance by fixing up matting so as to intercept the rays 

 of the sun. At our own apiary we make no alteration 

 in winter, under the belief that the bees will take care of 

 themselves and that they seldom venture out when the 

 weather is unsuitable. 



With hives exposed in the open garden, it is a good 

 practice to wind hay-bands round them in frosty weather, 

 as such a protection enables the bees to resist the cold. 



