8 ARKANSAS EXPERIMENT STATION 



Carniolan. These come next to the Caucasian in gentleness. 

 They swarm excessively, but they are good honey gatherers ana 

 it has been claimed that they resist European foul brood as wen 

 as do the Italian. 



Cyprian. These resemble in appearance rather closely the 

 Italian but are lighter in color. The queens are very prolific. 

 The bees winter well but may wear themselves out by brood 

 rearing in the winter. The workers are very pugnacious and 

 cannot be subdued by smoke. Altho formerly widely advertised, 

 the Cyprian have been almost totally abandoned because they 

 are difficult to handle. 



LOCATION OF THE APIARY 



In choosing the site for an apiary there are at least four 

 fundamental points that must be considered. These are shade, 

 fresh water, protection from strong winds, and sufficient pas- 

 turage. 



It is considered desirable to have the hives exposed to the 

 sun during the early morning hours; but during the hottest part 

 of the day the hives must be shaded, for the combs are likely to 

 melt, and the brood to die. Then too, many of the bees are re- 

 quired for fanning the brood; others loiter around the hive, 

 loafing instead of gathering nectar. 



Brood rearing requires a constant supply of fresh water. 

 This should be near the apiary and may be in the form of a small 

 stream, a dripping hydrant, or anything that will furnish a con- 

 stant supply of fresh water without drowning the bees. A vessel 

 filled with water with a lot of chips or pieces of cork floating on 

 it will serve very well. 



Protection against strong winds is essential. If the apiary 

 is located in the open, a windbreak as well as shade must be 

 provided. Many beekeepers prefer to have the hives facing east 

 or southeast, this, however, is probably not of very great import- 

 ance. The essential thing is that the entrance should not face 

 north or southwest; neither should it face the prevailing wind 

 if the hives are arranged in groups of four, the entrances should 

 face east and west. 



To avoid dampness the hives should not be placed directly 

 on the ground but should be raised four or six inches, using bricks 

 or regular hive stands as a foundation, rrhe rear end of the 

 hive should be one or two inches higher than the entrance so that 

 rain coming thru the entrance may readily drain off All grass 

 and weeds should be kept cut low in order to allow the beesfr^P 

 flight to and from the hives. ^^ 



If beekeeping is to be commercially profitable, the available 

 nectar supply is a very important consideration. Any localitv 

 m the state will supply nectar for a few colonies, tho the surplus 



