156 THE BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 
must have a clear way out; there must be no traffic 
within at least half a dozen yards of the front of the 
hives. It must be confessed that at Stoke Newington 
for twelve years the bees stood with their faces 
towards the principal walk, and only about eight feet 
distant. But at honey-taking times we used to 
prohibit any one but ourselves going into the garden, 
and if visitors arrived they gave but little trouble after 
being admonished that the bees hated strangers after 
they had been robbed. Any way there ought to be no 
tratlic near the front of the bee-house; the bees must 
have an open causeway out and home, and they must 
look east, south-east, or south. Ours stand now facing 
south-east with an open causeway where traffic is 
impossible, with half a mile at least of meadow land 
full before them, before they can reach any pathway 
or public road. It is not because bees are dangerous 
that this rule of an open causeway should be observed. 
When the honey is taken, they make it known, if any 
opportunity is afforded them, that they have just a 
shadow of a temper, and power to demonstrate the 
fact. At such times strangers should be kept out of 
the way, and if the apiary is so placed that strangers 
cannot be kept aloof, then all that remains to be said 
is that the apiary is badly placed. On all ordinary 
occasions bees have not the least idea of stinging ; in 
fact, a bee going about her business must be annoyed 
considerably ere she will waste her time to punish 
the enemy. So in taking a swarm, it may almost be 
said they will never sting: at all even’s none but a 
bungler or a very timid person will be stung by them. 
Give them a good causeway then, not looking on a 
