Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-30
INTERESTS OF THE FARM
Where to Place the Apiary for
the Best Results.
Position of Hives 1mportnnt-Best lie.
suits from Arrangement im Pairs
Running East and
West.


deal depends upon where the apiary is
located. says the American Cultivator. AS
a rule, it should be in a spot well pro-
tected on the west. north and east by
high buildings, woods or the like. There
should also be some shade, but not enough
to prevent the hives from drying out
readily after a rain. A good place for
them is on the north side Of young fruit
trees or fruit shrubs such AS grapes and
currant bushes; then the piercing effects
of the midday sun will he mitisated, and
yet enough of It's rays penetrate to warm
the hives up in the morning. when 1t Is
desirable.
They should face as the location OF the
apiary and course of the prevailing cold
est winds dictate. though if they are To-
Gated in a spot exceedingly well protected
1t will make no great difference in the
amount of surplus honey stored which
ever way they face. Few apiaries are as
favora bly, located as that. however, ana
hence pains should be taken to place the
hives so as to prevent the prevailing cold
winds from blowing directly into their
entrances. Usually the entrances shonld
be toward the south or east. or the TWO
directions, perhaps the latter Is the least
desirable. as It puts the entrances IN
the shade toward evening and thus causes
the bees to stop work sooner. Hut on
the other hand. the rising suns rays Will
strike earlier into the entrances of hives
facing east than of those facing south
encoura ging the bees to begin work soon
err in the morning, whereby bees of east
facing hives may put in as many hours
of labor as they would If the hives faced
south
The hest results are obtained by placing
the hives in pairs runrNx.g east and west
about eight feet apart. 1t is very poor
policy to place them close together in
one long row. Placing them close to-
gether in this way. without any marks
to change their appearance, tends to mud
die the queens. so that when they fly
out to mate it will he bard work for
them to return to their own hives: and
If they enter a wrong hive they will he
killed by the bees therein. and their own
hive go oueenless. Therefore. to guard
against this the hives should always be
scattered and so placed that each one
will have some distinguishing marks by
which its queen can find her way back
again when she flies out to mate.
Furthermore, when the hives are well
distributed IN a certain space, their in
mates can be more easily handled. 1t
seems to improve their disposition, espe-
cially If there are some trees shrubs or
the like about it. Robbing is not so prev
alent either, and the absence of that al
ways helps to make bees better natured
In case there are no trees or shrubs TO
serve as distinguishing marks for the
lar alc cln,,
be put up in front of some of the hives
for landmarks.
To keep the hives off the ground. al
most anything capable of answering the
purpose we'll can be used Blocks OF
wood, stones and the like will often do
but generally two-by-two pieces Ions
enough for a couple of hives to rest or
side by side are the best. one being USED
in front and the other at the back of thu
hives; and if the stones are placed undel
these. 1t will prevent their rotting 50
soon. If the ground Is rather low. how
ever, the hives will need to be higher thar
this. Accordingly. stands for them, II
that case, should be made by mailing fou
slx-inch boards together In the form o
a box. having II long enough when thu
boards are stood on edge to accommodat,
two hives side by side. The front shout,
he made slanting. so that heavily-ladei
bees which land there will have no dim
Guilty in crawling up to the entrance o
the hive and If this front board is un
planed the rough surface presented vii
be all the better for them to climb on.
RAISING CHICKS.
While this time of year is almost idea