170 DISADVANTAGE OF MR. SAUL'S HIVE. 



The vicinity of great towns is not a proper situation for 

 an apiary. The smoke of a city is very detrimental to bees, 

 and the chimneys are in general the resort of swallows and 

 martins, who are great destroyers of the bee. 



The proximity of a large river is also injurious, as the 

 bees in their homeward flight are often dashed into it by the 

 high winds, or fall into it from fatigue. 



On the subject of the aspect of a hive, we may be allowed 

 to make mention, though perhaps not a very respectful 

 one, of a hive invented by a Mr. Saul of Lancaster, which 

 is so constructed, that it is made to move in the centre on 

 a pivot, the motion of which is regulated by a vane, and 

 the aim of this motion is, that the entrance of the hive shall 

 always be directly opposite to the quarter from which the 

 wind blows. Thus, the hive of Mr. Saul has no positive 

 aspect at all, for in the morning it may face the north east 

 and before the evening, it may face the south west. The 

 bees on leaving the hive may have an aspect facing the 

 north ; during their labours in the field, the wind may 

 change, and on their arrival at home, the aspect may be due 

 south, and the bees are thus thrown into the utmost con- 

 fusion, as not knowing where to look for the entrance into 

 their hive. The south west is the most prevalent wind of our 

 summers ; during that season then, the aspect of Mr. Saul's 

 hive will be north east, the worst of all aspects for a hive. 

 On the whole, we consider this hive to be one of the wildest 

 inventions, which was ever engendered in the head of an 

 apiarian. 



