FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 89 



front. Each of these stands is intended for two hives, with a 

 space of 2 to 4 inches between the two hives. It is much easier 

 to level a stand like this than to level one for a single hive. 

 There are other advantages. 



For years I was well satisfied with these stands, but longer 

 experience has made me become greatly dissatisfied with them. 

 More than a square foot of the under surface of the bottom- 

 board lies flat upon the boards of the stand. "When it rains the 

 water soaks in between these two surfaces, and favors rotting. 

 Worse still, it makes the nicest kind of a place for the large 

 wood-ants to make a nest and honeycomb the wood of the 

 bottom-board. Perhaps the coming stand is of cement with but 

 a small surface in actual contact with the bottom-board. 



HIVES IN PAIRS. 



This putting in pairs is quite a saving of room; for if 

 room were allowed for working on each side of each hive, only 

 two-thirds the number could be got into the row. But so far 

 as the bees are concerned, it is equivalent to putting in double 

 the number ; that is, there is no more danger of a bee going into 

 the wrong hive by mistake, than if only a single hive stood 

 where each pair stands. If hives stood very close together at 

 regular intervals, a bee might by mistake go into the wrong 

 hive, but if a colony of bees is in the habit, as mine sometimes 

 are in the spring, of going into the south end of their entrance, 

 they will never make the mistake of entering at the north end, 

 as you will quickly see if you plug up, alternately, the north 

 and south ends of the entrance. When the north end is closed 

 it does not affect the bees at all, but close the south end, and 

 dire consternation follows. To the bees the pair of hives is 

 much the same as a single hive, and they will not make the 

 mistake of entering the wrong end. 



A space of 2 feet or so is left between one pair of hives 

 and the next pair, so as to leave plenty of room for a seat. 



GROUPS OP FOUR HIVES. 



In two of the apiaries there is still further economy of 

 room by placing a second row close to the first, the hives stand- 



