22 THE BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING. 



combs, as, in the event of your wishing to transfer them, they 

 will be found much the best and cheapest. Those skeps having 

 sticks thrust across them will usually be found to have crooked 

 combs. 



41. Iiocation. — Choose a good location for the hives to 

 stand in. A south-east aspect is the best, if you can provide 

 shade for them during the middle of the day ; this is very 

 essential, unless made with double walls, and painted white 

 or a very light colour. We are obliged, on account of the 

 number we keep, to disregard the service of shade, but have 

 all the hives painted a light stone colour, with white roofs. On 

 not a single occasion have we had an accident from the heat. 

 Do not place them close against a wall, but leave a clear 

 path of at least 3ft. behind, and have the front clear from 

 grass or weeds. It is a very good plan, in order to make this 

 clear space in front, to dig out the earth, and fill in with tar 

 and rubble, sifting some grit sand on the top, to make all neat. 

 This is of great service to the bees, as, when coming home 

 heavily laden, the wind will frequently IjIow them on the ground ; 

 but by having the front clear they can, after resting, easily take 

 wing again, whereas with damp grass or weeds they get chilled 

 and perish. 



42. When to Commence. — The best time of the year 

 is about the commencement of April, if you are going to start 

 with a stock of bees ; but if a swarm, you will have to wait 

 until June ; if so, you are very unlikely to get any surplus 

 honey the same season. The English honey season being so 

 short, they will only have time to get sufficient for their winter's 

 consumption. This does not apply to places where heather 

 or buckwheat honey is obtainable ; nor is it always the case, 

 as an early swarm in May will give a very good account of 

 itself if attended to (see par. on " Swarming "). We have, on 

 several occasions, taken from 2olb. to 3olb. of super honey 

 from a swarm of the current year. Let me here caution my 

 readers to be very careful in purchasing stocks during early 

 autumn, as novices will not infrequently send swarms of that 

 season, whose combs are so soft and laden with honey that 

 they will not bear the rough usage incidental to a journey, 

 and will break down, drowning all the bees ;'but if such stocks 

 are very near at hand, no fear need be entertained, if moved 

 carefully at night. 



VII.— APPLIANCES. 



43. Bar-frame Hives. — " What description of hive would 

 you recommend ? " How often this question is asked ! The 

 first thing to be considered is the size of the frames. They 

 must be Association standard size, for obvious reasons, men- 

 tioned before. All parts must be made to fit each and every 



