226 MIITBR's AMERICAN 



Strips efFectually prevent bees from passing from one 

 hive to another, as here represented. They never run 

 up a vertical barrier, to cross over to adjoining hives, 

 even if it be but two inches high. This being the case, 

 a great objection is overcome to horizontal shelf-stands. 



The stool-stand, as seen at page 153, is about as good 

 as anything that can be used. It affords as few facili- 

 ties for the breeding of iilsects as any other, and it has 

 some features that render it preferable to either sus- 

 pended or shelf-stands. It is easily removed, when 

 necessary, and with an inclination given to each side, 

 there can be no reasonable objection to its use. If these 

 stools can be made in one board, they would be much 

 better ; as the groove where the joint is made, when in 

 two pieces, will open, in time, so far as to admit the 

 moth-worm to wind up therein. When cracks do ex- 

 ist, they should be filled with putty in the spring. 



The size of stools should be at least two inches larger 

 on each side, than the dimension of the hive. The 

 clamps, to prevent warping, should not be omitted. The 

 height may be from one to two feet. The height of 

 hives from the ground is a matter of some importance. 

 I have generally recommended three feet for suspended 

 hives, and it would be better, perhaps, to have all hives 

 as high as that, but it is not always convenient. All 

 we want is, to get the hives out of the reach of the damp 

 exhalations that arise from the earth during warm 

 weather. If the hives are placed near the earth, a thick 

 coat of gravel around them would be beneficial, in pre- 

 venting exhalations of dampness. In case of using the 



