100 AUSTRALASIAN 



keeper to keep them in the best possible condition. Much 

 time is saved in a well-sheltered apiary, as all the necessary- 

 manipulations can be got through more rapidly and securely, 

 and with greater satisfaction to the apiarist. At the same 

 time there must be free access to the hives on every side ; and 

 there can be no greater mistake made than that of placing 

 hives with their backs close up to a hedge, wall, or paling ; 

 first, because the hives have to be manipulated from behind, 

 and from the side, but never from the front ; and secondly, 

 because such a position exposes them to the ravages of spiders 

 and other insects, and favours dampness. If the shelter is to 

 be secured by planting, I would advise the selection of trees or 

 shrubs which will not grow very high ; ten to twelve feet is 

 high enough for shelter, and if there be no higher trees in the 

 immediate vicinity of the apiary, it may save much trouble in 

 climbing after swarms. There are many kinds of quick-growing 

 evergreen shrubs suitable for shelter hedges, from which a 

 choice may be made ; and the bee-keeper should, of course, 

 make it a point, when planting, to get something that will also 

 be ornamental and afford forage for bees. 



The apiary must be well fenced in, so as to be secure from 

 cattle or poultry ; the ground should be dry, level, or gently 

 sloping to the front, so that each row of hives may be on a 

 slightly higher level than that in front of it, and clear of 

 everything that would tend to impede a free movement about 

 the hives. Swampy or badly drained places must be avoided, 

 as excessive moisture is very injurious to bees. Some writers 

 recommend spreading a layer of sand, or even sawdust, over 

 the ground ; but having tried both sand and grass, I prefer the 

 latter. Grass, if kept trimmed, looks very neat and tidy, keeps 

 the ground cool in hot weather, as compared with sand, and as 

 a contrast to the white hives is a great relief to the eye in bright 

 sunshine. My method is to sow a mixture of perennial rye- 

 grass and white clover seeds over the ground with a little bone 

 dust in spring or autumn, and roughly rake them in, and by 

 the end of the season there is a good permanent grass-plat. A 

 small lawn mower is useful to keep it nicely trimmed. 



SHADE. 



There can be no doubt that shade for the hives from the hot 

 mid-day sun of our summers is a desirable thing, but there seems 



