40 MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



Salt overcomes the weeds, but it does not prevent decay, 

 A good scheme is to mix a sufficient quantity of lime 

 mortar and lay down an area of a yard square for each 

 hive. This keeps down grass, and is dry, hard, and level 

 for the hive to stand upon. 



In the working of a bee-farm a large number of 

 damaged tins accumulate, too dirty or rusty for use. 

 Now these tins — kerosene tins will do — with the tops and 

 bottoms removed, and the sides flattened out make very 

 good hive stands. Use two of them to each hive, thus 

 protecting them from damp, and choking of the entrance. 

 Hives are now ready to receive the bees. 



HOW TO STOCK UP. 



There are as many ways of stocking a bee-farm as 

 there are apiarists. Each one pursues a plan which he 

 considers the best for his locality. The great majority 

 of bee-farmers have grown into the business, and in a 

 number of cases, the business has evolved from capturing 

 a stray swarm hanging by the roadside. Some bee- 

 keepers, located in good country, make a practice of 

 hunting bees in the bush. The tree found is fallen, and 

 a hole cut in to enable the brood-combs to be removed 

 and transferred (See under that head) to frames which 

 are then placed in a nucleus hive for the bees to cluster 

 on. There are few bee-keepers that have not at one 

 time or another secured an extra swarm by this means. 

 This is all right if the bees are healthy. 



Another plan — perhaps the most expensive one — is 

 to simply order a few hives of Italian bees from some 

 breeder, who will pack them as per diagram (Fig. 78) 

 and guarantee safe arrival. All that is necessary is to 

 remove the screens at the entrance and on top — after 

 using a puff or so of smoke — and replace the ordinary 

 cover. 



Again, bees may be bought by the pound, delivered in 

 a wire cloth cage. In this case the hive — containing 

 frames of foundation — is placed on its site and a sheet 



