216 IWmER's AMERICAN 



of the sun are most oppressive. Do you see them re- 

 maining 'exposed to the sun, or do you perceive them 

 changing their position to the shady parts ? They re- 

 move to the shady sides of the hive, of course, and why 

 is it ? Because the rays of the sun are too powerful ; 

 and many bees that cluster on the outside of the hive 

 would be at work within, but for the insupportable heat 

 there. From these considerations, we should infer, that 

 hives should not be exposed to the full force of the sun's 

 rays in the summer ; nor be so situated, that the air will 

 have no circulation around them. 



THE HEAT OF THE SUN DISADVANTAGEOUS IN WINTER. 



Perhaps of all thei innovations upon the established 

 rules of bee-keepers, that I shall make in this work, none 

 will be more repugnant to their views than the asser- 

 tion, that bees should not be exposed to the rays of the 

 sun in the winter. Nothing in the whole management 

 of bees is susceptible of being more clearly established, 

 than this fact ; and though I shall not at this place dis- 

 cuss the question in all its bearings, yet it is necessary, 

 that I should state, that close bee-houses with a southern 

 exposure, should never be constructed. Where is the 

 bee-keeper who has not witnessed the loss of his bees, 

 when coming forth frorti jhe hives when the ground was 

 covered with snow ? Now, what is it that allures them 

 from their tenements ? It is the warm rays of a 

 winter's sun falling on the hives, where, perhaps, the 

 northerly winds find no entrance. The poor bees see 

 the light penetrating their domicil, and come down to 



