Where economy of room is a consideration we fit up bee-houses with a double row of hives, one above the other. Our illustrations show respectively the front and back of a house of this kind for twelve hives, having an ornamental zinc gutter to prevent the wet from dripping on to the alighting-board. When a number of hives are thus together we colour the alighting-boards differently, so as to provide the bees with a distinctive mark by which each may know its own home, and not wander into its neighbour's house. Bees readily enough receive a honey-laden labourer into a hive; but if the wanderer be poor and empty it will be promptly repulsed, and may have to forfeit its life for the mistake. Queens returning from their wedding trip are liable to mistake their hive if there is not a noticeable difference between the entrances. A queen entering a hive already possessed of a fruitful sovereign would be certain to be killed, and the loss to her own hive is a serious one. Hives are often made queenless from this cause, and thereby reduced to utter ruin, the bee-master perhaps attributing his failure to something altogether different.
In lieu of houses an economical stand can be provided by driving two rows of posts into the ground, one row about twelve inches behind the other, and nailing upon them rails two inches wide and thick. The hives may stand upon these, with eighteen inches between them for space for performing operations. But there is less fear of jarring the other hives when the stands are separate.
§ II. ZINC COVERS.
The annexed illustration shows the ornamental zinc cover, and renders but little description necessary. It represents one of our improved cottage hives upon a stand. Three clumps of wood must be driven into the ground, and the three iron rods supporting the covering made fast to them with screws; there are screw holes in the feet of the iron rods for the purpose. When thus secured but little fear need be entertained of its being blown over by high winds.
In the roof two pulleys are fixed, so that, by attaching a cord, the upper hive covering the bell-glass supers may be raised with facility for the purpose of observing the progress made by the bees. Directions as to the mode of fixing the pedestal will be found above (page 118).
The ornamental zinc cover will form a pleasing object in the flower-garden when placed in a suitable position on the grass plot. It is painted green; the iron rods are of such a length as to support the roof at a convenient height from the ground.
Our next figure is that of a simple and inexpensive covering for any cottage straw hive when exposed in the garden. It fits close on to the upper hive, coming sufficiently low to protect it from sun and rain, without obscuring the whole hive.