164 ADOPTION OF THE SINGLE PEDESTAL. 



the hives being placed on a right line, they should be ranged 

 in the form of a chequer thus — 



£1 A. A A A. A 

 A.AAAAl 



According to this method, the flight of the bees in the 

 hinder row will not be obstructed by those in the front. 



The plan which is often adopted, of placing several hives 

 upon the same bench is very injurious, and during the 

 swarming season, it is often attended with very destructive 

 consequences; for the easy access which the bees of one 

 hive have to those of another, is sure to lead to quarrels and 

 murderous battles. It is an erroneous opinion, though main- 

 tained by some skilful apiarians, that all the bees of one 

 apiary know each other, and that it is only with the bees of 

 a strange apiary that they quarrel. We have been too often 

 a witness of the destructive animosity of these winged ama- 

 zons, and the wars which they wage upon the weaker hives 

 of their own establishment, not to impress it strongly upon 

 the attention of every keeper of bees, to place every hive 

 upon a respective pedestal. In general, a post is placed at 

 each corner of the stand, as some prejudiced people believe 

 that a hive stands firmer upon four feet than upon one. The 

 numerical power, we grant, is against us, but we are certain 

 that they who have once used the single pedestal, will never 

 have recourse again to the four-legged stool. 



There is another advantage, and no trifling one, which 

 arises from the use of the single pedestal. 



We have reason from sad experience to know, that the 

 bear is not the only animal which robs an apiary, for there 

 is a two-legged animal of a disposition still more vicious ; 

 for if the bear attacks the apiary, he satisfies himself with 

 the honey, but leaves the hive and the bees ; but the two- 



