19 



from the entrances properly attended to, are better out free from all 

 obstruction to rapid work. After bees have been located in dense 

 shade for awhile they become very vicious and difficult to handle ; and 

 in continuous wet weather, and also during the winter, the inside of 

 the hives becomes damp, and the combs mouldy, which is injurious 

 to bees. Bees themselves indicate when the ventilation is insufficient. 

 When they are seen near the entrance with heads down and their 

 wings vibrating — understood as " fanning " — they need more ventila- 

 tion, and it should be given by enlarging the entrances. 



Apiary Buildings. 



A good extracting-house properly equipped is an important adjunct 

 to every apiary. Special attention must be paid to the construction 

 of the building, or the tedious work of extracting and tinning the 

 honey wiU cause the beekeeper a good deal of anxiety during the 

 working season. It is highly important that ample room should be 

 provided for extracting the honey, uncapping and tinning the honey, 

 also for storing surplus combs during the winter months. Too often 

 sufficient space is not provided, consequently extracting operations 

 are hampered and the work of handling the crop is largely increased. 

 It is essential that good ventilation should be provided. The windows 

 and doors require to be screened to prevent the entrance of the bees, 

 which are liable to become a nuisance during operations. The windows 

 should be hung on centre pivots so that they will swing from the 

 centre, thus allowing them to be revolved. Where bees are kept in 

 small numbers the question of economy may have to be considered, 

 but it is poor policy to work without a certain amount of convenience. 

 The advantages of working in a roomy well- ventilated. bee-proof house 

 are many, and the question of expense should not deter the beekeeper 

 from providing the best extracting-house possible. A separate room 

 should be provided for' making and painting hives and other necessary 

 operations. 



^77777777777 



Fig. 10. — End Elevation of Extracting-house built on a Hillside. 



