THE APIARY. 103 



THE PROPER HEIGHT. 



I have known bees to do well at all heights, from 

 three inches to one hundred feet from the earth ; in 

 fact, from the thickness of an inch board laid flat on 

 the ground, to that of a hollow limb of a tree high up 

 in the air ; but these are the extremes. I find, from 

 experience, that there is less difference in the distance 

 they are from the earth than many suppose, and less 

 than what arises from other circumstances. If the 

 apiary is protected from winds, and there is consid- 

 erable surface of board immediately in front of the 

 hive, on which they can readily alight when they 

 return heavy laden, and a piece of board set up in 

 front, so that any stragglers may crawl up, it matters 

 but little whether they are six inches or two feet 

 from the ground. I prefer, for convenience, stands 

 from nine to twelve inches high, which is about the 

 proper distance to protect them from grass, weeds, 

 spider webs, and things of that kind, and also to keep 

 them clean and tidy, and free from the splashing of 

 heavy rains or dampness of any kind. Mr. Quinby 

 uses and recommends stands but two inches from the 

 ground. I have tried that height, and have recently 

 visited Mr. Quinby's apiary, but am not favorably 

 impressed with stands so near the ground, for all 

 purposes, yet he succeeds very well with them. 



This may be a matter of choice or convenience 

 with each individual, with the foregoing requisites. 



DISTANCE BETWEEN HIVES. 



I have kept them at various distances apart, from 



