§ I. BEE-HOUSES.
THERE is no contrivance for protecting hives from the weather so complete as a bee-house; one which also admits of an easy inspection of the hives ranged therein is especially convenient for lady bee-keepers. We here present a front view of one designed for only two hives.
The folding doors behind the bee-house have only to be opened, and the hives are at once exposed to full view; then, by raising the upper hive or cover, the glasses may be deliberately inspected without molestation from the bees, and the progress made by the busy multitude may be watched from day to day. Under the roof on each side are openings to act as ventilators, to allow the heated air to escape. With the sun shining on the house, and no escape of this kind, the temperature would become that of an oven.
Here our illustration shows the back view of the bee-house, the interior being furnished with two of our improved cottage hives. Two suspended weights balance the top hives which cover the glasses; the cord for each runs on pulleys, so that the covers can be easily raised and as easily shut down again when the inspection is finished. We may here remark that it is not well to keep the glasses long exposed to full light and view.
The front of the bee-house being closely boarded, a passage-way is contrived for the bees, by which they have egress and ingress to the hives without being able to gain access to the house. The hives must be kept close to the front boarding of the house, to prevent the opening of any crevices which the bees might mistake for the entrance to their hives, and so find their way into the house. The front view of this bee-house shows the ordinary contrivance for giving admission; the sliding zinc entrances may also be advantageously fixed, as shown in the woodcut of the bee-house to contain twelve hives. The bee-houses we furnish have a lock and key.
Care must be taken to keep the bee-houses free from spiders and other insects. In some districts ants are numerous and troublesome. The plan we recommend for excluding them is to put some pitch round the four supports of the bee-house, or, better still, strips of loose flannel or other woollen material that is absorbent, which have previously been soaked in lamp oil. We use sperm oil, as being the slowest-drying oil we know of A piece of string will keep the flannel close to the wood, and then neither ant nor other insect will pass up; so that by this simple means the hives may, so to speak, be insulated and placed beyond their reach. As the oil dries up it can easily be renewed. We have found this an effectual remedy against these insidious enemies of bees.
