The English bee-keeper, or, Suggestions for the practical management of amateur and cottage apiaries, on scientific principles : with an appendix of notes, chiefly illustrative

Preface

It will naturally be expected by every one who hears of the publication of a new work on bees, —in the face of the many excellent treatises already extant, some of which have opened to us many marvels in the natural history, while others have facilitated the profitable manage¬ ment, of these w'onderful insects—either that the adventurous author has something new to add to the common stock of already acquired knowledge upon the subject, or that he has, at least, some satisfactory reasons to allege for intruding himself upon public notice; seeing that to write a book, for which there is no vacant place on the library shelf of the apiarian

PREFACE.

reader, must undoubtedly be considered a work of no little folly and presumption. Respecting, as he does, this attitude of very natural expec¬ tation on the part of the public, the author of the ensuing pages would submit the following observations to the consideration of the candid reader.

In the first place, there is no one but will readily allow that our knowledge of bees, scien¬ tific or practical, however it may have increased of late years, is still limited; or that there is at least room for improvement. If this admission be made, it at once follows that there is room for a new work on the subject, however the apiarian’s library may seem at first sight to be complete without it.

The author would next shelter himself under the Horatian maxim:—

which may be thus paraphrased;—“A well-

PREFACE.

Vll

known subject, even though already ably han¬ dled, becomes as much the property of the author who treats of it anew, as if he had been the first to write about it, provided always it be treated in a novel manner^’' According to this rule, he hopes that so much of novelty will be found in his book as shall distinguish it from every antecedent bee-book, stamp it with an identity of its own, and make it interesting and acceptable even to the old-established bee¬ keeper. While, however, some matters in this book are undoubtedly new, (whether sugges¬ tions originating with, or discoveries and im¬ provements made by himself,) the author having made a free use of every available theory, sug¬ gestion, or practice, (from whatever quarter it came,) it follows that the greater part of the volume is old matter, however it may have as¬ sumed a new shape. His aim has been, firsts to recommend a more systematic, and at the same time improved, method of cottage bee-

PREFACE.

viii

management than at present prevails; and, secondly, to invite the attention of amateurs to his own peculiar plan of managing bees on scientific principles, founded on the consider¬ able experience of nearly eight years, assisted by much thought on the subject; and he be¬ lieves there are many persons, who, after a due consideration and trial of the system, (artificial though it may appear,) will approve of it as being both simple and effectual, and perhaps better calculated than most other systems (in the hands of an attentive and intelligent bee¬ keeper) to give satisfaction, as well on- the ground of economy as of profit.

The fact is, although it may be said with reason that there never was a time in the whole history of bee-keeping, at least in this country, when the pursuit has numbered so many votaries as at the present moment,—and certainly never did success promise so well to the lover of bees, thanks to the facility with which every kind of

PREFACE.

ix

information on the subject is diffused through the medium of the press,—the author believes that the science of practical bee-management is yet but imperfectly developed after all, compared with what it may yet become, if our apiarians will only give it the time and attention which it deserves. No practical results, for instance, have proceeded from, at all commensurate with, the splendid discoveries of Huber, Reaumur, and Shirach, relative to the natural history of the bee; and yet their revelations supply sufficient data upon which a highly scientific treatment of bees might be established. In this little work will be found an attempt to bring our higher knowledge upon the subject to bear upon, and improve, the system of bee-manage¬ ment actually in vogue among us.

The few wood-cuts, it is hoped, will suffi¬ ciently answer their purpose of helping out the instructions of the text. If it be complained that they are somewhat rude and primitive, the

PREFACE.

fault is to be attributed to circumstances, not to intention.

Other bee-authors, in drawing their labours to a conclusion, have thought it well to solicit the favour of ingenuous criticism ;—following in their steps, as considering that many still hidden truths may yet be evoked by a spirit of candid inquiry, tending to throw valuable light on the subject of these pages, the author would also invite the same. Any communications with which he may be favoured,, by the intelligent and experiniental apiarian, confided to the care of the Messrs. Eivington, will be duly for¬ warded to his address.

Chapter I

PRELIMINARY NOTICES, RECOMMENDATORY OF COTTAGE AND AMATEUR BEE-KEEPING.

Page

Origin of the work—The study of bees has a moral ten¬ dency—Proper way to encourage cottagers in an improved method of managing bees—Opportunities within reach of the country clergy of furthering this branch of rural economy—Advantage to themselves resulting from it—Peculiar difficulties of English bee¬ keepers—Attention and perseverance the best remedy against them.. 1

Chapter II

OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APIARY ; CHOICE OF A SITUATION ; AND REaUISITES FOR ITS WELFARE.

What localities are favourable, or otherwise, to the produc¬ tion of honey—Rules to be observed—Shelter from high winds and protection against damp—Importance of coolness of situation—Internal heat alone produc¬ tive of prosperity—Pedestals—Importance of ascer¬ taining the weight of every article of bee-furniture— Distance at which hives should stand from each other

CONTENTS.

Xll

—Height from the ground—Importance of water— Danger arising from the neighbourhood of ponds or rivers—^Vermin and offensive smells to be avoided— Advantage of low shrubs and a screen of trees in front of the apiary—Proper standing ground—Injury arising fi'om drippings of trees, &c.—Apiary should be out of sight of a public highway—But visible from the most frequented part of the house.12

Chapter III

OF STOCKING THE APIAKY, WITH HIHECTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OF STOCKS AND SWARMS.

Purchase of swarms the cheapest, of stocks the best, way of commencing an apiary—Proper weight and time of issue of a swarm—Importance of ascertaining the age of the queen-bee—Swarms from strong two-year-old stocks to be preferred, if they threw off swarms the previous year—A swarm of the current year, out of a last year’s swarm, to be rejected—Relative value of swarms and stocks—Purchase of stocks in spring to be preferred, otherwise in autumn—Precautions against deception—Rules to be observed in the selection of stocks—Indications of vigour in a hive—Proper weight —Transporting hives.22

Chapter IV. Of Straw Cottage-hives-their Shape, Size, And

CONSTRUCTION.

The old-fashioned bell-hive objectionable—Mr. Payne’s hive most suitable for cottagers—Though too small—

Two sizes recommended—Stock-hive large, spoliation hive small—Material and method of construction— Enfranee way—Reasons for approval of large hives . 28

CONTENTS.

Kill

Chapter V. Op The Cottage System Of Bee-management In The

Advantage of a bee-dress—I. First Year : Propriety of destroying the queen in the spring if her age exceeds two or three years—Method of returning swarms and capture of queen—Rising of the prime-swarm with a new queen, and treatment of it—What if the old queen leads off the swarm—Encouragement of large swarms —Treatment of casts—Excision of royal cells—Sup¬ plying hive room—Removal of a bee-glass, how effected—Weighing hives—Proper weight—Making up a deficiency of food—Sheltering hives from the sun —Wintering bees—^Mr. Taylor’s screens—II. Second Year : Board cleansing—Excision of mouldy comb— Spring feeding—Treatment of weak stocks—Swarming —Bee-glasses—Super hives—Driving—Materials for, and manner of conducting, the process—Uniting bees— Fumigation—Autumn spoliation of hives—Same stocks to be preserved firom year to year—Renewal of comb —Summary of advantages peculiar to the system re¬ commended in this chapter.32

Chapter VI. Op Hives Of Straw, Suitable To Amateur Bee-management

Mr. Golding’s Grecian hive—Its superiority to every other kind of hive—Mr. Taylor’s straw hive—Slight modifi¬ cation of Mr. Golding’s hive—Size too small—Two sizes recommended—Construction—Painting hives— Boxes unsuitable for the open air.69

XIV

CONTENTS.

Chapter VII. Of The Amateur System Of Bee-management In The Open Air

Page

Of the depriving system ; unsuitable to out-door apiaries —Plan here recommended to the amateur not essen¬ tially different in its different features to that before detailed in the fifth chapter—History of artificial swarming—Dr. Scudamore—Difficulties in the way of a general adoption of this method—Proper time for making artificial swarms—Depends on two things ; state of weather and season, and forwardness of stock—Importance of waiting till the commencement of the grand honey harvest, and the considerable appearance of drones—Process of forming artificial swarms—Treatment of the old stock—No casts to be permitted—Summer management of the prime-swarm —Arrangement of the hives in an apiary—Preserva¬ tion of brood in the autumn—And of comb—Reasons for recommending artificial swarming.77

Chapter VIII. Of Boxes, Etc., Suitable For An In-door Apiary

Wooden boxes preferable to straw hives—Construction and quality of wood—Dimensions—Two collateral boxes to one colony sufficient—Plenty of room to be given in glasses or caps over the stock hive—Adapters—Bars and their arrangement—Thermometers, how useful, and where to be placed—Guide-comb to be affixed to the roof of the box, diagonally—Two bottom-boards to each colony; one to every box—Closing slides of

CONTENTS.

XV

Chapter IX. Of The Bee-house And Windovt Apiab.y

Page

Observations on bee-houses—Sheds objectionable—Dr. Bevan’s bee-house—Instructions for erecting a bee-house—Cross-barred frame for supporting the boxes —Window apiary ; its advantages—Entrance blocks . 117 or

Chapter X. Management Of The Bee-house Or Window

A few hives of straw to be kept in the open air—The de¬ priving system not perfect—Treatment of straw hives —How to stock a bee-house, &c.—I. First Year : With a prime-swarm—Forcing artificial swarms and destruction of queen—Caution—Natural swarming preferred in the event of the destruction of the old queen—If queen destroyed or not, casts to be ex¬ pected—Treatment of casts—Feeding new swarms— Supplying room—Preparing for autumnal forma¬ tion of artificial stocks—Removal of full bee-glass— Method of forming artificial stocks—^Uniting bees— Treatment of them—Advantages of such stocks—

—Second plan for rearing artificial stocks—Autumn feeding—Winter treatment—Board cleansing—II. Se¬ cond Year : Spring feeding—Spring treatment— Summer management - New method of increasing an apiary, wholly irrespective of swarming—Artificial swarms to be made out of old straw hives—How to form one good stock out of two old ones—Renovation of comb in boxes^—Renewing colonies in a bee-house by replacing old with young queens.129

CONTENTS.

xvi

Chapter XI. Of Feeding Bees

Page

Top feeding preferable to feeding at bottom—Objections to Mr. Nutt’s plan—Care to be taken to prevent escape of heat in a hive in spring—Two kinds of feeders recommended and described—One for copious feeding in autumn—The other for partial feeding in winter and spring—Objections to winter feeding— August or September feeding to be preferred—Food —Sugared ale—Barley sugar.168

Chapter XII. Of Certain Instruments, Either Useful Or Necessary To Bee-management

Zinc plate—Bee-drees—Bee-knife of two kinds—Weighing

machine for garden hives—Conclusion.178

THE

ENGLISH BEE-KEEPER

Chapter I

PRELIMINARY NOTICES, RECOMMENDATORY OP COTTAGE AND AMATEUR BEE-KEEPING.

The history of this volume—how and why it came to be written—I may perhaps be allowed to state in a few words. When I first settled down in an agricultural district, having long been passionately addicted to the study of bees, but chiefly as a recreative pursuit, I turned my attention to the subject anew, with a more prac¬ tical intent, as I began to view in it one means, among others, of improving the condition, both financial and moral, of the surrounding pea¬ santry, many of whom were suffering greatly under the pressure of the times. The vicinage, as affording bee-pasturage, had ever been con¬ sidered remarkably good; and the honey of the district too was much esteemed. The culture

B

THE ENGLISH BEE-KEEPER.

of bees itself, however, was almost in its lowest condition, at least amongst the poor. I argued to myself, therefore, that if only half-a-dozen families could be permanently benefited by my instruction and encouragement, it would amply repay me for any trouble I might incur. To lose no time, I at once established a .second apiary of my own, in the management of which I hoped to acquire such sound additional know¬ ledge of bee-matters, as should qualify me to act as a pioneer, and ultimately to become the pro¬ pounder, of a better system than that which prevailed around me; nor was it long before I felt myself in a position to start my plan of cot¬ tage bee encouragement. At the same time I sought other aid in the published treatises of older and more experienced bee-keepers, some of whom I knew had endeavoured to write for the benefit of the poor. But seek as I might, I sought in vain for the tract whose instructions generally my own experience would justify me in recommending to their notice. It was about this time I formed the design of myself attempt¬ ing to supply this desideratum in apiarian lite¬ rature ; but after spoiling much good paper, and wasting not a little valuable time, I was fain to give it up in the end, not from any doubt as to the matter or instructions which I designed to give being good and useful, but from a sense of the difficulty I should find in successfully hand-

THE ENGLISH BEE-KEEPER.

ling the subject, so as to bring it down to the understanding of the poor. From the dehris of this tract, however, arose the conception and outline of the present work, which by degrees assumed its actual form,—less modest and unpretending it may be than the parent from whose ashes it proceeded, but, I would fain hope, not the less calculated to please and to be useful.

My first object, however, remains unaltered. I wish to induce all residents in the country, who have leisure and opportunity, to encourage bee-keeping among their poorer neighbours ;— and not with a view to their pecuniary advan¬ tage only^ for the study of bees is capable of ministering to a much higher end. There is scarcely a more interesting branch of natural history to be mentioned, and none certainly more instructive. To quote the words of Dr. Sevan; “ In common with the other branches of natural history, it leads to a salutary exercise of the mental faculties; it induces a habit of observation and reflection ; no pleasure is more easily attainable, nor less alloyed by any debas¬ ing mixture ; it tends to enlarge and harmonize the mind, and to elevate it to worthy conceptions of nature and its Author.” Every word of this is true. The rustic bee-keeper, if he have only a soul to appreciate the works of God, and an intelligence of an inquisitive order—and intelli-

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gence is sure to expand with the attentive study of any branch of natural history—cannot fail to become deeply interested in observing the won¬ derful instincts (instincts akin to reason) of these admirable creatures; at the same time that he will learn many lessons of practical wisdom from their example. Having acquired a knowledge of their habits, not a bee will buzz in his ear with¬ out recalling to him some of these lessons, and helping to make him a wiser and a better man. It is certain that in all my experience I never yet met with a keeper of bees who was not a respectable, well-conducted member of society, and a moral, if not a religious, man. It is evi¬ dent, on reflection, that this pursuit, if well attended to, must occupy some considerable share of a man’s time and thoughts. He must be often about his bees, which will help to coun¬ teract the baneful allurement of the village “ pub¬ lic,” with all its accompanying syren-like evils. Whoemr is fond of Ms bees is fond of Ms home: this is an axiom of irrefragable truth ; and it is an axiom that will be sure to kindle in every true Englishman’s breast a favourable regard for a pursuit, which, though humble, has undoubted power to produce so happy an influence, “ Where the Frenchman sings of his country^ we talk of home. ... We point with exultation (and I trust with gratitude) to the firesides of England, and claim the admiration of the world for the virtue

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which has gained so high a reward.” Who will not assist in any efforts, great or small, which may continue this our claim to universal admira¬ tion ? Who, that sees in the love of home the companion of many other virtues, which, if not yet developed into active exercise, are still only dormant, and may be roused into wakeful energy at any moment ?

To gain the attention, however, of the poor themselves, with the hope of successfully in¬ structing them in an improved system of bee-culture, is confessedly not an easy task. While in other countries the peasantry need little instruction from their superiors in this matter —their own quick intelligence supplying them with every necessary encouragement—it must be acknowledged that our rustic poor are slow of apprehension to a proverb, and unready at learning even from the successful examples of others. Hence it is proper to give them gra¬ dual instruction, taking care to make the first converts in a neighbourhood of the most indus¬ trious and intelligent of its cottagers. It is obviously useless, also, to recommend to their notice any system of complicated machinery or of fanciful contrivance. Every suggestion and every improvement which it is intended they shall take in, must be of the most simple kind. I do not think it necessary to say much on the subject of expense ; for costly experiments must

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ever oppose an insuperable barrier to bee-im¬ provement among the poor. Simplicity of detail, therefore, and perseverance in instruction, as well as personal example, must go hand in hand together in any attempts to increase the number of, or to improve the system actually in vogue among, cottage bee-keepers. I would fain trust that the system of cottage management, ex¬ plained further on, will not be found so difficult as to prevent its answering the first of the requi¬ sites above mentioned; for the other, the bene¬ volence of the higher classes and their kind co-operation must be looked to.

It is because I believe our rural clergy have it in their power more than any body else to encourage this branch of rural economy, that I have dedicated these pages especially to them. Owing to their continual residence within their parishes or cures, they have the best opportuni¬ ties, both of acquiring themselves a thorough knowledge of the practical management of bees, and, at the same time, of recommending it to the notice of their people by precept and exam¬ ple. Nor is it alone in respect of the more extended good which they may do to others that I would call their attention to this subject, but also on account of the peculiar interest and pleasure which they themselves may derive from it. Independently of the interest which attaches to the apiarian art from economic considerations,

THE ENGLISH BEE-KEEPEK.

and the pleasure of appropriating to one’s own use the surplus produce of bee industry,—a pleasure, by the way, of a very exquisite kind, as every bee-master will bear me witness,—it merits, as a branch of natural history, the atten¬ tion of every lover of nature, and the curious investigator of her secret things. There is still so much mystery attached to the habits of the bee, and especially to the internal economy of the hive, that the scientific study of these insects affords ample scope for much patient and hope¬ ful research. Supposing, however, that the whole history of the hive-bee had been opened up so as to preclude the hope of further discovery, there is quite enough in the simple verification of the discoveries of others to interest and astonish the lover of nature. In every way, indeed, the study of bees is so fascinating and instructive, that I would gladly induce many of my brethren in the ministry to share its pleasures with me.

Having said thus much on the subject of bee¬ keeping generally, by way of recommending an increased attention to it, let me say a few words as to its difficulties. These certainly are neither few nor trifling, although perfectly easy of mas¬ tery by the patient, intelligent, and persevering bee-owner. The less he can lay claim to this complex character, the greater of course will his difficulties become. But are not these quah'fications considered necessary to success in every branch of rural economy—I may say, in every pursuit in life ? Did one ever hear of stupidity, sloth, or inattention succeeding in any enterprise of whatever kind? The farmer who is content with an occasional stroll over his fields, and a similar inspection of his yards and granaries, will in vain expect to thrive. Can we wonder at the iU success of an ignorant or negligent bee-keeper? And yet how often is the expres¬ sion of surprise heard from the lips of some individual who has started an apiary, that his bees have disappointed him; when, if particular inquiries were instituted into the cause of the disaster, ten to one it would be found that the hives had been left unnoticed from October to May, and from May to October ! The manage¬ ment of bees, which always requires some deli¬ cacy, and not a little dexterity of treatment, assuredly demands no less attention and care than other matters of a similar nature. A com siderable apprenticeship is necessary in order to obtain the mastery over it as a science. There is no “royal road” to successful bee-keeping, as there is none in any thing else. In his preface to his very useful book, Mr. Taylor has well styled the tyro apiarian’s path, “ usually a rough and uncertain oneso rough, indeed, and un¬ certain, (chiefly owing to a lack of care and pains,) that three out of every five persons, who take up this study even warmly, will be found to

THE ENGLISH BEE-KEEPER.

relinquish it with disgust at the end of a few years. Not to dwell here on faults of manage¬ ment, there are other causes of failure, almost peculiar to this country, a few of which I may briefly enumerate. While in America or Aus¬ tralia' it is almost incredible of how large an apiary one hive may become the parent in a very few years ; in England a similar hive may stand year after year, without change, apparently strong, yet unproductive in either swarms or honey, perhaps in both together. A stock, at the time of purchase, may have had a three or four-year-old queen, (an evil which is seldom acknowledged, and still more seldom guarded against,) who dies some time in our long winter before there is brood wherewith to replace her; the winter may be mild and the spring cold and late, and no honey gathered till the end of May, whence proceeds the death from starvation of many a colony of bees, (which might be saved by a judicious and timely supply of food,) or its productiveness for the current season destroyed. A rainy summer, too, may follow, or a very dry one, neither of which yields much honey; in short, a thousand are the

> In a late work on New South Wales, I read the following astonishing account of the produce of a single stock of bees:— “ In the district Illawarra, near Sydney, one hive has been known to multiply itself to 300(1!!) in the course of three years! ”

THE EXGLISH BEE-KEEPER.

casualties to be feared in this fitful climate, with which the more fortunate bee-keeper of other countries is happily unacquainted. Say, then, whether it is reasonable to expect success in the face of these difficulties, where a consi¬ derable skill and much persevering watchfulness are not present to meet and counteract them ? To be successful in bee-keeping, there must be a sufficient experience in bee-management, whe¬ ther derived from a practical acquaintance with the subject, or from a diligent study of the best manuals of instruction in the matter; it is requi¬ site to be thoroughly initiated in the mysteries of judicious feeding, and to understand some¬ what of that improved system of bee-culture, by whose means the great honey harvests are secured at those rare but favoured seasons when they occur, and the most is made of indif¬ ferent years; while at the same time the acqui¬ sitive propensity is kept duly in check, so that if much is taken as legitimate spoil, enough shall still be left to support the prosperity of the hive. Difficult, however, as unquestionably is the sci¬ ence of bee-keeping, it is not beyond the reach of attentive perseverance ; and the very difficul¬ ties, as in most cases, only serve to enhance the pleasure and gratification of the patient bee-master. It has been judiciously observed, that “ no one who pays a fair amount of attention to the management of those very interesting insects

THE ENGLISH BEE-KEEPER.

will willingly relinquish the keeping of them.” Carelessness and indifference alone find the difficulties to which I have alluded insurmount¬ able, and I take leave to say they deserve to do so.

Chapter II

OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OP AN APIAKY : CHOICE OF A situation: and REaVISITES FOR ITS WELFARE.

There are some parts of England where, it is to be feared, the utmost attention to hee-keeping can meet with only very partial success. In such places it is but once, perhaps, in four or five years that any thing like a fair harvest of honey is obtained. It may be asked, therefore, is it worth while encountering the many vexa¬ tions and discouragements of the intermediate years, for the sake of this inadequate, and only occasional, remuneration? This is a question, of course, for every intending bee-keeper to answer for himself. Having myself kept bees for about seven years in a locality of this kind, I can speak feelingly of the disappointment and loss occa¬ sioned by it. In all that time I never had the good fortune to obtain a single pound of honey by fair means; and what I did obtain, at the cost of a hive’s sacrifice, was both poor in quality and insignificant in quantity. Nor was my case at all singular in this respect, my neighbours to a man complained of the like ill success, in spite of attention and pains bestowed without grudging. I was in consequence very nearly giving up the pursuit, as many others had done before me, although not reputed to be readily daunted by mishaps. My advice, therefore, to every aspiring bee-keeper, who can assure himself that the locality in which he happens to reside is of this nature, is this, to let bee-keeping alone. Hap¬ pily, however, such instances of very bad locality are rare. Most places will at least amply repay the labour and cost of establishing an apiary; while some few highly-favoured districts will yield astonishing supplies of the most delicious nectar. Whoever happens to reside in the vi¬ cinity of large woods, heaths, or commons, or still better, within reach of all these together, may consider himself especially fortunate. A broken country, however—by which I mean a country devoted to no particular branch of hus¬ bandry—is not far inferior, where water, woods, and meadows divide the land between them.

The question being settled, “to be or not to be,” as regards the establishment of an apiary; next are to be considered sundry necessaria to its well-being, which, for facility of reference and conciseness, I have drawn up in a set of rules, gleaned for the most part from a variety of sources, both ancient and modern, at the same time attested by my own experience or approval. They have reference in general to the requi¬ sites of every kind of apiary, but are drawn up

THE ENGLISH BEE-KEEPEE.

for the more especial instruction of those who prefer the use of the cottage hive, standing in the open air. I think it unnecessary to dwell upon the subject of pasturage, which has been fully treated of by other writers, because nothing but supplying it (if it must be supplied arti¬ ficially) on a large scale is of any material ad¬ vantage to the prosperity of an apiary. White clover and huck-wheat (the latter of which is excellent food for poultry) may be sown largely with double advantage —clover more especially, as sheep and cattle are extremely fond of it; also the more laurustinus about a house the better for early spring feeding; but, beyond this, I would recommend no especial provision for the apiary, as the land so occupied may be cultivated to much better advantage.

To proceed, then:

I. All out-door bee-hives of wood or straw must be placed in a well-sheltered situation. A garden in a valley, well protected on all sides from the effect of high winds, undoubtedly ranks among the first of bee localities; but it is of little importance where the apiary is situated, so that it be not in a damp spot, nor exposed to the fury of high winds from any quarter. These last are especially detrimental to the prosperity of an apiary, those more particularly which blow from the south-west, round by north, to north¬ east, and east.

THE ENGLISH BEE-KEEPER.

II. It is of less consequence that the hives be warmly situated in winter, than that they be screened from the morning sun in the very early spring, and from the fierce noonday heat of summer and autumn. This, is most injurious, although but little attention has been paid to the matter generally. Therefore by all means let them be protected, if possible, by some ve¬ randah or screen from the sun’s rays. In this case the best aspect for them is undoubtedly the south-east or south. If, however, they cannot be thus conveniently and effectually shaded, the hives must be set at the back side of a high wall or fence of trees, facing eastward or westward— the latter aspect I think the best of the two. So much alive are some apiarians to this evil, that they prefer turning their hives with a point to the north; nay, it has been proposed (and with a show of reason) to keep them always facing the direct north. In their natural state we know bees seek an uniform temperature, by burying themselves deep in the hearts of forests, where the sun’s rays seldom, if ever, penetrate. Their own restless activity keeps them alive enough in summer, while they are so snugly housed in winter as seldom to be induced to sally forth; hence arises this further advantage, that they prey but little on their stores. It cannot be too urgently recommended to keep the hives as cool as possible in the late spring and sum-