24 OUT-DOOR APIARY. 
to the west. No shrubbery, weeds, or high grass should be permit- 
ted to grow about the hives, as these afford a harbor for spiders and 
other insects. 
I have noticed tlat some bee-keepers set their hives on the top of 
posts some four or five feet high, without the least form of shelter over 
them. In this situation the bees are exposed to all the changes of 
the weather, during summer and winter; so also are the hives, and 
the sun and storms will soon crack and warp them, and render them 
unfit for further use. 
It is a very common practice for bee-keepers, in locating an out- 
door apiary, to place it by the side of a fence or building, not allowing 
space to pass between the rear of the hives and fence or building; 
this I consider bad policy: Ist, because it does not afford as good a 
circulation of air about the hives as if they stood some two or three 
feet from the building. 
2d. It does not afford ag good opportunity to examine the hives as 
would be if they could be approached from the rear. 
3d. Weeds and shrubbery are more likely to be suffered to grow up 
around the hive in such locations than when in the yard, clear ofa fence. 
Great care should be taken to secure the hives against being blown 
over by high winds; different means have been resorted to to prevent 
this. All hives should be secured in some way, if nothing more thana 
stone is placed upon the top of them. 
When several hives are placed on one bench, either in an open bee- 
house or out, there should be at least one foot space between the 
hives, and a division board from four to six inches wide set up edge- 
wise to prevent the bees from mixing up when clustering out. I have 
known instances, where the hives ‘of late swarms have stood near each 
other, and the bees have all left one hive and joined their neighbors 
of their own accord, This I consider no loss when the swarms are 
weak, but rather an advantage ; but with old stock hives it would be 
different, as they would be very liable to quarrel, especially if the bees 
should attempt to enter the domicil of their neighbors. Still I have 
known instances when the bees in adjoining hives have spread out 
and clustered together for weeks, and appeared to agree as well as if 
they had been one family. 
