166 miner's AMERICAN 



irtches, are required, and an ordinary joist, thirteen feet 

 long, would sufSce for four posts. 



It must not be supposed that this kind of bee-stand 

 is the most beautiful that can be devised. I am now 

 talking to the man of moderate views, who wishes a 

 snug, plain bee-stand, at a moderate cost ; yet as good 

 as the best in practical utility. 



When I come to the gentleman of leisure, with a 

 purse ready to burst for the want of an exit-valve, I 

 shall then unfold a magnificent diorama to his view; 

 but here, among the plain every-day hives, I must stifle 

 the utterance of these sublime views, which are re- 

 served for those who enjoy their otium cum dignitate. 



It may be thought by some apiarians, that stands or 

 posts, on the foregoing plan, bring the hives too close 

 This is not the case. The distance will be about eight 

 inches for the two hives occupying the same stand ; and 

 the hives of the adjoining stands will be much farther off". 



It is true, that bees do not thrive so well when pladed in 

 hives on a stand close together,- resting on a floor-board, 

 for the reason, that they are apt to run to and fro to 

 each other's hives ; but when the hives are suspended, 

 this difficulty is avoided/and a bee is no more likely to 

 enter the adjoining hive in this case, than if it were ten 

 feet off) 



There is a feature pertaining to hives suspended, not 

 belonging to those resting on floor-boards, it is this : the 

 alighting-boards for the bees to rest on, as they enter the 

 hives, are in the position of an inclined plane. 



Here is a side view of a suspended hive, with the 



