112 THE APIARY. 



side, or so as to break ofF the prevailing wind, with a roof 

 over the whole. 



It will be seen that the three hives set very compactly, 

 yet the entrances are some distance apart, and so dissimi- 

 lar that the young queens would seldoni make a mistake 

 in entering. In a place where there is little or no wind, a 

 hive may be added on the fourth side. Such bee-houses, 

 tastefully built, would be quite ornamental. A hexagonal 

 shape might be a little more graceful, yet it would increase 

 the liability of losing the queens. For a more elaborate 

 style, an octagon would be suitable, to which a second 

 story might be added, giving room for sixteen hives, as 

 seen in fig. IG, on the j)receding page. 



In grounds where the bees would annoy the family, or 

 visitors, they may be surrounded by a hedge of shrubbery 

 or vines. Enclose a plot of the desired area, of any shape 

 the fancy may dictate. Should a circle be chosen, I can 

 easily imagine that a- small, slender tree in the centre, 

 would greatly assist the bees in finding the hives. The 

 hedge may be evergreens, vines, or any small shrub of 

 suitable growth. Grape vines are very appropriate, being 

 of quick growth, and combining ornament with j^rofit. 

 Openings should be left at proper distances for the hives, 

 which should be set in such a manner that the front is on 

 the inside, and the body of the hive on the outside of the 

 hedge. The hedge should be dense, but as narrow as 

 possible. One arrangement is shown in fig. 17. 



Operations with the hives can be performed on the out- 

 side, thus avoiding the attacks of the bees at work, which 

 are more liable to be troublesome than those which leave 

 the hive when it is opened. This hedge can be trained in 

 an arch over the top of the hives, but should not be 

 allowed to attain any great height, compelling the bees to ' 

 rise over it. The fronts of the hives should be of different 

 colors, as before mentioned, but the color of the other 



