This engraving represents a bee-house adapted for having a number of hives in a limited space,—three rows of hives, one above the other.
We do not recommend a bee-house of this construction; it is difficult to erect one to afford space for super hives, without its being so inconveniently high as to be liable to be blown over by strong winds.
Hives thus located in a bee-house are not exposed to so much change of temperature, and the stocks generally pass the winter well.
Here we may introduce the meditations of a German apiarian, who describes the advantages of a bee-house for the bees, and his own pleasure in watching over his pets in the winter, as they dwell so comfortably and safely. It is true that Herr Braun associates still choicer delights with the simple pleasures of bee-keeping, but as Mr. Woodbury has not excluded the higher theme from his translation, we need not hesitate to quote the whole:—
EVENING THOUGHTS IN JANUARY.
(Translated from the German by Adalbert Braun.)
BY A DEVONSHIRE BEE-KEEPER.
Within my little garden
Stands also a bee-house,