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hive, and this was efiective for over six months, and by occasionally keeping 

 the ground stirred it lasted much longer. The cost was less than 2d. per 

 hive — using the cheap agricultural salt. All the hives at the State apiaries 

 are now treated in this manner. 



SHADE. 



Many amateur beekeepers imagine • that hives containing bees need' 

 shading, and forthwith place them under trees in dense shade. No greater 

 mistake could be made in bee-culture. Bees love sunshine, and, if in the- 

 hives recommended, they should be in the open where they can get all the- 

 benefit of the sun, summer and winter. Though the shade of fruit-trees — 

 being deciduous — might not be objectionable, there is no need of it. The- 

 hives, if painted white, or a Ught colour, and the ventilation from the 

 entrances properly attended to, are better out free from all obstruction to 

 rapid work. After bees have been located in dense shade for a while they 

 become very vicious and difficult to handle, and in continuous wet weather, 

 and also during the winter, the inside of the hives becomes damp, and the 

 combs mouldy, which is injurious to bees. Bees themselves indicate when 

 the ventilation is insufficient. When they are seen near the entrance with 

 heads down and their wings vibrating — understood as " fanning " — they 

 need more ventilation, and it should be given by enlarging the entrances. 



FLAT COVERS. 



I consider these an abomination, and they should not be tolerated iik 

 any apiary. They twist and warp, require " shade-boards " over them, 

 and lumps of rock to keep the shade-boards from blowing off, and altogether 

 form the most unsightly and inconvenient fit-out as covers it is possible to- 

 imagine. An apiary that otherwise would have a picturesque appearance 

 is transformed into an ugly bee-yard by such covers. Independent of their- 

 appearance, flat covers prevent such a free circulation of air as is obtained 

 andpr the gable covers as shown in the illustration of the State Apiary. 

 Although a flat cover is shown on the kerosene-case hive, it will be quite- 

 understood that this is an exceptional circumstance in which the cheapest 

 form of frame-hive is represented. 



A very great advantage in connection with the gable cover, with ven- 

 tilating-holes at each end, is that the air in the space above the frames, 

 can never rise in temperature above that of the surrounding atmosphere. 

 Directly there is a tendency in this direction, the warm air expands and 

 rushes out of the ventilating-holes, and the cooler air takes its place, thus 

 keeping the internal part of the hive much cooler than is possible with a 

 flat cover. Whether flat covers are adopted on economical grounds I do not 

 know, but I am surprised at any one using them, for if the gable covers cost 

 four times as much I would have them in preference to the flat ones. 



