100 AUSTRALASIAN 
keeper to keep them in the best possible condition. Much 
time is saved in a well-sheltered apiary, as all the necessary 
manipulations can be got through more rapidly and securely, 
and with greater satisfaction to the apiarist. At the same 
time there must be free access to the hives on every side ; and 
there can be no greater mistake made than that of placing 
hives with their backs close up to a hedge, wall, or paling ; 
first, because the hives have to be manipulated from behind, 
and from the side, but never from the front ; and secondly, 
because such a position exposes them to the ravages of spiders 
and other insects, and favours dampness. If the shelter is to 
be secured by planting, I would advise the selection of trees or 
shrubs which will not grow very high ; ten to twelve feet is 
high enough for shelter, and if there be no higher trees in the 
immediate vicinity of the apiary, it may save much troubie in 
climbing after swarms. There are many kinds of quick-growing 
evergreen shrubs suitable for shelter hedges, from which a 
choice may be made; and the bee-keeper should, of course, 
make it a point, when planting, to get something that will also 
be ornamental and afford forage for bees. 
The apiary must bo well fenced in, so as to be secure from 
cattle or poultry ; the ground should be dry, level, or gently 
sloping to the front, so that each row of hives may be on a 
slightly higher level than that in front of it, and clear of 
everything that would tend to impede a free movement about 
the hives. Swampy or badly drained places must be avoided, 
as excessive moisture is very injurious to bees. Some writers 
recommend spreading a layer of sand, or even sawdust, over 
the ground ; but having tried both sand and grass, I prefer the 
latter. Grass, if kept trimmed, looks very neat and tidy, keeps 
the ground cool in hot weather, as compared with sand, and as 
a contrast to the white hives is a great relief to the eye in bright 
sunshine. My method is to sow a mixture of perennial rye- 
grass aud white clover seeds over the ground with a little bone 
dust in spring or autumn, and roughly rake them in, and by 
the end of the season there is a good permanent grass-plat. A 
small lawn mower is useful to keep it nicely trimmed. 
SHADE. 
There can be no doubt that shade for the hives from the hot 
mid-day sun of our summers is a desirable thing, but there seems 
