THE APIABY. - 107 



BEST CO\T<:U. 



I have taken some pains to ascertain the best protection 

 for hives, from the weather, and have concluded that the 

 cheapest covering is as good as any ; any thing that will 

 keep the sun and rain from the top, is sufficient. Covers 

 for each hive, Uke the bottom board, should be separate, 

 and some larger than the top. 



BEE-HOUSE imPBOFITABLE. 



I have used bee-houses, but they will not pay, and I 

 have discarded them. They are objectionable on account 

 of preventing a free circulation of air ; also, it is difficult 

 to construct them so that the sun may strike the hives 

 both in the morning and afternoon, which is quite essen- 

 tial. If they front the south, the middle of the day is the 

 only time when the sun can reach all the hives at once ; 

 this is just when they need it least, and in hot weather 

 the combs are sometimes injured by melting. But when 

 the hives stand far enough apart, on separate stands, it is 

 very easy to arrange them to stand in the sun, morning 

 and afternoon, and be shaded four or five hours in the 

 middle of the day. 



We are often quite prodigal in building a splendid bee- 

 hcuse, but we think of economy when we come to put our 

 hives in, and are quite sure to pack them too closely. 



SOME Wllil, HAVE THEM. 



Notwithstanding the objections here urged against bee- 

 houses, there wiU be a few, who, if they keep bees at all, 

 must have them in a house. We will see how far they 

 can be accommodated without seriously diminishing their 

 profits. A bee-house, without any pretension to ornament, 

 o-enerally combines tlie desired consideration with eeono^ 

 my. It is usually straight, and contains but one row of 

 hives. A second and even a third is sometimes added, 



