46 ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 





N a small apiary, the matter of arrangement is not of great im- 

 portance, but as the number of colonies begins to approach 100, 

 the question of arrangement becomes one of considerable im- 

 portance. Two things need consideration: the convenience of 

 the operator, and the giving of such an individuality to each hive that 

 each bee can readily distinguish its home. 



Before discussing these points, it might be well to say a few 

 words about the location of the apiary. First, it ought to be some 

 distance from the highway. What that distance should be, depends 

 upon what there is between the bees, and the street. If there are 

 buildings or trees, or even a high fence, the bees ma^- be quite near 

 the road; as, in their flight, they rise above these obstructions, and 

 thus fly over the heads of the passersby. If there is nothing between 

 the apiary and the highway, the apiary ought not to be nearer the 

 street than ten rods, and fifteen or twenty rods would be better. It is 

 possible with a small apiary to avoid trouble even if it is located near 

 the street. When it is necessary to handle the bees when no honey 

 is coming in, and such handling is likely to irritate them, the work 

 can be done just before dark, when the bees will not fly far from 

 their hives; but in a large apiary there is too much work that must 

 be done when the bees may not be in an amiable mood, to enable the 

 operator to perform it during the twilight of evening. If necessary, 

 the bee-keeper can protect himself with a veil, and, armed with a 

 smoker, he can go on with the work, even if the bees are a little 

 "ci"Oss,"but the apiary must be isolated. 



