Texas Beekeeping. 45 



go so far. It is safe to say that most of the foraging is within two 

 miles of the apiary under average favorable conditions, and in cases 

 where nectar is plentiful they do not go that far. During a scarcity 

 of nectar, bees, in some instances, will go many miles for food, while 

 in others they will starve in their home environment when bees only 

 a few miles away are finding niore'than a su^ciency of food. These 

 conditions must be watched carefully, or, while the apiarist finds the 

 bees in the best condition in one of his apiaries, those in others may 

 be near the point of starvation. 



RENTING OP LOCATIONS. 



There is no set rule as to proper rentals for apiary locations ; main- 

 ly, perhaps, on account of the varying conditions and circumstances 

 that determine price. While some persons readily agree upon certain 

 terms of pay, others do not care to accept any remuneration for the 

 place the apiary occupies on their property. But the apiarist can 

 easily afford to properly compensate those whose land he uses, be- 

 cause a good location is very essential and a valuable asset in exten- 

 sive out-apiary management. 



As a rule, where apiaries average 100 colonies, a money rent of $10 

 and some honey, varying in quantity according to the favorableness 

 of the seasons, is a fair rental, and one in general vogue. Where 

 only 50 colonies are kept, on the average $5 is sufficient. The 

 rental under these arrangements, including the honey donated, will 

 amount to from $10 to $20 yearly. Where no money rent will be ac- 

 cepted, honey should be donated, a practice of many beekeepers. Some 

 beekeepers secure their locations, and sometimes the entire territory 

 in which to locate apiaries, for a term of years by a lease, and in va- 

 rious other ways. 



Out-apiaries should be located some distance away from houses, 

 preferably in a secluded place near a water tank in pastures, where 

 the bees will not molest or be molested. A good fence of smooth wire, 

 to prevent possible damage to running stock, should surround the 

 apiary, and this can often be constructed by selecting a number of 

 trees to fasten the wire to. The land owner is not required to give 

 the bees any attention, the entire management being conducted at 

 long range by the beekeeper, who visits his out-apiaries, whenever nec- 

 essary. With proper facilities, of which the automobile is cominc to 

 be an important factor, the systematic and successful management of 

 a large number of out-apiaries is a profitable business. 



HIVE EQUIPMENT. 



Simplicity is one of the chief requisites of a good bee hive. It may be 

 said that generally the best hive is one that gives most ready access to 

 every part, and that is capable of most expansion and contraction. It 

 must be strongly made of lumber least likely to warp and twist, or 

 cheek and split, when subjected to extremes of heat, cold, or moisture. 

 For this reason, our native pine is not so desirable as white pine, which 

 is far superior and is almost exclusively used. 



