The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1828-11-29
ON BEES.
[Concluded from page 26.1

lConciuded from page zo.1
On the general subject of the care of bees the fol-
lowing remarks, the result of personal experience,
may be acceptable to the reader.
The situation of apiary is of little importance.
We have seen bees thrive as well with an eastern as
with northern aspect. If the entrance of the hive
face the north, the bees may possibly be detained with
in, minute or two later in summer; but this is more
than counterbaanced by the cause operating in
winter when it is desirable that the bees should re-
main in the hive. But for ourselves, have seen no
difference in the time of quitting the cells, between
those that faced the north, and those that had south
ern exposure. Nor have we observed that there is
any difference in the welfare of hives as placed in val
leys or elevated on hills meaning of course, hills Of
thirty or forty feet in height.
We have seen hives prosper, adjoining stercorary,
and oftentimes near piggery. We have known col
ones of bees to exist for term of twenty years, with
other protection from the heat and cold, than the
top Of the hives. They have multiplied equally well
under an open shed but as free circulation of air
is necessary to their health and comfort we have new
er known them to thrive when quite enclosed. A
house, therefore, strictly called which is shut on
all sides, may to the observer for year
or two, but there must be extraordinary combina
ton of fortunate circumstances, if the bees increase
while confined in it.
1t is better to begin with single hive, and so at
tain knowledge of the habits and instincts Of the
bees by degrees. We have known several persons
who have purchased number of hives at once, and
relnqished the pursuit from the perpexity that enst-
ed when the swarming season commenced. But there
Is no similar occupation easily followed, and none
that requires little capital that of keeping bees.
The profit is enormous. If person well trained to
the employment, should follow the plan adopted in
some parts of Europe, of removing the bees from
place to place, in kind of ark on river of some
length, thus providing plentiful supply of food, he
might increase his stock TO any extent.
An apiary of twenty hives could maintain itself in
an area of mile where there is plenty of blossoms
Every farmer should however provide pasture for his
bees as well as for his COWS and therefore when the
spring and summer flowers are gone, he should have
held of buckwheat ready, which, although not so
paatabe other flowers will serve the bees for win
ter food
An apiay or bee She'd should be, at the caves about
four feet from the ground, with roof sloping both
ways, and with any aspect that the owner chooses
IT should be ten feet wde and the length of it should
be increased as the hives multiply. 1t is, however,
dlfhcult to describe one accurately.
The most convenient one that we have seen, is on
farm near New Brunswick in New Jersey 1t is fif-
y feet long, and contains sixteen hives on each side
Inc swarms which successfully cast off, are placed
under the same shed in the winter and an equal num-
per OF the old hives sold to make room for them.
ms aplary might be enlarged to any extent were