Locating Hives

Bee-keeping requives special care. I propose in this paper to recall some of the points which liare been settled by long experience in the care of bees. First, the bee-house should be well sheltered from the winds. If tliere is no natural protection, a high wall or close fence should be built on the windward side. If the bee-house is not so sheltered tne bees are unable, in a high wind, to strike the hive, and being blown to the ground, are chilled and die. lt is important, also that the bee-house face the south, the east, or the southeast, so as to enjoy the light and heat of the sun. Large surfaces' of water in the immediate neighborliood are not favorable to successf ui bee-culture. Bees when overeóme by cold or fatigue, are Hable to light on the water, or to be carried down by the wind. Henee the importance of the locality and surroundings of the beehouse. ïhe position of the hive may next be considered. Once properly located.the hive should not be moved af ter the bees have come out and taken the bearing of their surrounding, lest they become bewildered in their flight and perish in consequenee. The hives should be placed in a right line, and separated f rom each other not less than twofeet. In many bee-houses,the hives are placed one or two f eet f rom the ground ;but more careful study and observation have settled the question that the hives should not be more than two inches f rom the ground. The reason it obvious ; many bees become fatigued on tlien icium trom the distant flower ttelds, miss the hive and alight under it. Kow if the hive is very near the ground, the bees are able to reach it again ; but if the hive is raised higher, they are lost. This low arrangement of hives is also favorable to the flight of issuing swarms. Flying lower they are less exposed to stray winds. The grass about the hive should be frequently cut, and the ground kept clean, to prevent too much dampness, and to destroy the lurking places ofnoxious insects and vermin. It is desirable also that the ground near the nee-house should contain no tall trees, but only those of similar size and shrubbery, that the swarming bees may alight within reach for convenient hiving. Each hive should have a separate stand to prevent the bees from passing to other hives, and should be of different color, so that each swarm may easily identity its own home. Among the variety of bee-hives which have been invented is wliat is called the chamber hive. This has two apartments - the lower for the residence of the bee, and the upper to hold the boxes to be fllled with honey after the lower part is full. To prevent the comb from slipping down, the hive is made narrower at the bottom than at the top. To roll off the worms that may be driven down by the bees the bottom boards are inclined. The dividing lines are made with severa compartments so as to hold as man swarms as the bee-keeper may desire without troubie or risk of swarming The changeable hive is another kind that the boxes, as fast as fllled witl honey, may be removed without dis man can't dig ditches well unless he has an eye for grades, tlistances, and straight Unes, and experience in handling his tools. The raw hands wiioni we put to ditching, and who sometimes 0 up the job so well, have had experince in the old country in this soit of work, and are really skilied workmen n this department of labor. If the owest kind of farm work demanda kill as well as muscle, what slnill be did of the higher? ïhere are few men who can plow in straight lines nd uniform depth, f ewer still who can eatter seed evenly, and not one in ten ;hat is fit to be trusted with the care f horses. The sooner, therefore, that armera and farm hands understand hat wages will be in the ratio of capacity and faithfulness the better it will be for all concerned. An ambi,ion will be roused among workmen to xcel, farm work will be elevated ab#ve he level to which a too uniform rate of wages has consigned it. and farmers will reap the benefit of more skilll'ul abor, and will have the satisfaction of cnowing that they get an equivalent 'or what they pay. There is another point. We are persuaded that farmers change their help too often. When a nan gets the hang of the farm, the eam, and the landlord, he becomes in 1 certain sense a skilied laborer, and is, or ought to be, more valuable than a raw hand. With average gootl management, hired help is worth more the second year than the first, and it is a ood plan to hold out to our men the encouragement of increased wages as heir services become of increased value. _________