MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 
*0 
no other reason than to give variety to onr archi¬ 
tecture. We think the large ample roof particu¬ 
larly necessary in our hot climate, to shade the 
walls and windows from the fervid sun. It is al¬ 
so the best roof to throw off the deluging rains 
that frequently fall here, and it assists greatly in 
keeping the walls dry, no small comfort in country 
houses, especially when built of stone or brick. 
(Fig. 9.) 
.But as we have expressed our opinions pretty free¬ 
ly on this subject this month, under head of Edi¬ 
tor’s Table, in noticing Mr. Downing’s late publi¬ 
cations, we will not enlarge at present. We hope, 
however, in planning for country residences, more 
attention will be paid to the grounds that surround 
them; for we think, so far as ornament is concern¬ 
ed, these are of more consequence, than the family 
residence itself. What can be more incongruous 
than a fine house, standing naked and alone, on 
rough, uneven ground, destitute of verdant shade 
and shelter, and surrounded by a miserable coarse 
fence ? We prefer a log hut, with basswood 
chinking and mud plaster to such, for then every¬ 
thing is in keeping. 
MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 
We have had some experience in bees, and 
spent many agreeable hours watching their habits 
and movements, and always found ourselves wiser 
if not richer in the result of our observations, be¬ 
sides enjoying the sweets of their labors. We 
have also seen and read many treatises on this 
most intelligent and curious of insects; written 
with much ingenuity and patient research, yet to 
be frank, we confess that we are not altogether 
settled in opinion as to the best plan to pursue in 
regard to them. There are certain rules, however, 
to be observed, without which no one need expect 
to succeed well as an apiarian, even in propagating 
bees, if he destroy them to obtain the honeys The 
situation in which the hives are placed should be 
dry, pleasant, and shady. If in a bee-house,' it 
should be roomy and well ventilated, and open to 
the morning sun. The hives should be made of 
thoroughly seasoned pine, basswood, whitewood, 
or black walnut planks, not less than one and a 
half inches thick. This is necessary in our north¬ 
ern climate to keep up a regular and proper tem¬ 
perature, avoiding thereby the extremes of heat in 
summer, and cold in winter. It is said, too, by 
many apiarians, that bees make their comb during 
the night; and if -so, the hive should be thick 
enough to retain the mild temperature of the day, 
through the chills of night-fall. Let the hive be 
put as close together as it can be, to prevent the 
bee moth from depositing its eggs or nit in the 
crevices, for these are sure destruction to the 
sw T arm. The size of the hive should be about 
that of a bushel, or to measure inside a cube of 14 
inches. 
This is our starting point, whence we may 
branch out into a dozen different models of hives; 
some with the drawer, or box plan of Mr. Weeks; 
others with adjoining apartments like Dr. Thatch¬ 
er’s; others still, with a subtended contrivance ac¬ 
cording to Mr. Affleck. Again, the house, or col¬ 
ony method has had its advocates—while many, 
and those by far the most numerous, insist that 
the old way of keeping bees in a crazy house, or 
no house at all, but anywhere on old benches, 
stumps, or stools, in a rickety open hive, either of 
wood or straw, and to murder the bees with brim¬ 
stone, and rob them of their honey, is the best of 
all; this last, however, we do not subscribe to. 
Were it not for the bee-moth, little trouble would 
be experienced in propagating bees in either of the 
methods mentioned; but as that affliction to the 
apiarian is universal in our country, no successful 
course can be followed, unless,'we guard effectu¬ 
ally against its ravages. 
Our experience impels us to lay down this pos¬ 
tulate : that but one queen or mother bee can ex¬ 
ist in any one community for any length of time, 
and therefore, that the swarm can be only aug¬ 
mented from the increase of this female. It fol¬ 
lows then, that if the colony be overpeopled, or 
very numerous, it can not increase above its exist¬ 
ing size; for the queen, or her successor can lay 
but so many eggs, and that number can only keep 
good such as are lost by accident or die naturally in 
the colony. Of course the chamber or house plan 
can only grow to a given size, and never swarm. 
This plan, too, is otherwise objectionable, as being 
the least productive and profitable method; liable 
to occasional accident, or loss of the whole, besides 
the depredations of the moth, which will, maugre' 
