If, however, the queen is a prohfic layer, it is better to use a rapid 

 feeder, so as to provide food, but not to over stimulate the stock. 



Most of all, the troubles arising from keeping bees in the or- 

 dinary hive out-of-doors can be eliminated by the use of a bee-house. 

 A would-be keeper of bees who has not yet purchased his hives, and 

 is contemplating a number of stocks in his apiary, is well advised to 

 consider the prospects of such a bee-house. It is true that the initial 

 outlay probably exceeds the equivalent saving on the outer parts 

 of normal hives, but there is much to be gained, and is indeed well 

 worth while if half-a-dozen or more stocks are to be kept. A spacious 

 fowl-house or garage, suitably adapted, makes an excellent bee- 

 house. 



The bee-house may be of any convenient size, and only the 

 interior fittings of the hives are required. During manipulations 

 the bee-keeper works in a half light, so that the bees do not leave 

 the brood-box so readily, and when they do, they fly towards the 

 windows, thus leaving the operator alone. Furthermore, the entrance 

 being outside the building, incoming or flying bees do not molest 

 him, nor is he troubled from the bees of adjoining stocks. Another 

 point is that urgent work can be undertaken in warmer conditions 

 than those prevailing outside, with a greater degree of protection 

 from inclement weather. Thus, not only can the operation be 

 carried out when otherwise it would be impossible, but the risk of 

 being stung is considerably reduced. There are many other advan- 

 tages of bee-houses, and the reader is referred elsewhere for further 

 details.!" 



Handling a stock of bees. In any work among bees, it should be the 

 bee-keeper's constant aim to work with Nature, helping and ex- 

 ploiting the natural characters, habits and instincts of the bee to his 

 own advantage. The bee-keeper should, therefore, remember 

 whenever a colony of bees has to be disturbed he is working against 

 Nature, and he must be prepared for the consequences. The im- 

 mediate reaction to opening a hive of bees, is their natural instinct 

 to defend their home. Therefore, they sally forth with their one 

 available method of attack, the recognised means of defence, and 

 proceed to employ it to the best of their abilities, as every bee-keeper 

 knows to his own cost. 



As explained previously, do not attempt to open a stock unless 

 it is necessary, and then only for as short a time as possible. This 

 will reduce the risks of attack, and minimise the disturbances to 

 the orderly routine within the hive. For the latter reason, it is best 

 to operate stocks during a nectar flow nearer the close of the day, 

 whenever possible.rather than at mid-day, as it does not hinder the 

 foraging bees in their work, and, moreover, recovery proceeds 

 normally during the night hours. Operations early in the day 

 bring about an upheaval of the hive routine, depending of course on 

 the magnitude of the task, which usually dislocates the bees' work 

 for the remainder of that day, and most of the next. Even where the 



'"John Spiller. Tlie House Apiary. 



46 



