1218 Live Stock.—Bees—Proper Situation of the Apiary.

fupport, there can be little rifk in the farmer making the trial, efpecially as the capi- tal required will be but trifling.

In undertaking this fort of ftock, the beft fituation is in general where the hives will be leaft expofed to wind, and enjoy as much of the influence of the fun as pof- fible; for wind always retards bees in their work, while the fun’s influence invites them to it. Though it is well known bees thrive well in high and windy fituations, a Jow one is always to be preferred. Mr. Bonner adyifes“ an early fituation; a hol- low glen by the fide of a rivulet, furrounded with abundance of turnips in bloflom in the fpring, muftard and clover in the fummer, and heath in the latter end of fummer and harveft with a variety of other garden and wild flowers in their fea- fons.” Itis an obfervation as old as Columella, that the bee-garden fhould con- fiantly face the fouth, and be placed in a warm valley near a ftream,

Tt has been well remarked, that“a plentiful aflortment of bee-flowers is a confi- deration that requires attention, if we defign to favour an ample production of honey. The nearer the pafturage is tothe apiary, the more journeys the bees can

nake in a day, and confequently the fooner they will be able to fill their hives. The product from a large fupply, but at a fmall diftance, and in a temperate fituation| even with the common management, will be fuperior to-that of the moft{kilful in a bad one. On the contrary, with bad management, and with fcanty pafturage and indifferent fituation, a very trifling profit can be cxpeted. Britain in general is but thinly ftocked with bees. Few farmers in comparifon efteem them worth their notice; itis from the attention of cottagers we derive’ the chief fupply of honey and wax. It will be readily admitted, that a large number of{tocks kept within a finall circuit, and in a bad fituation, will be prejudicial to that circuit, as being more than can be fupported in plenty, and will neceflarily impoverith each other, The ftate of any particular fituation may be known by the general product for fe- yeral years together, and not from one or two years only; but more certainly from what a very good feafon will produce, which may be accounted as a ftandard. But there are many fituations capable of feeding a much larger number of ftocks than are to be found on them. However, if the generality of farmers and cottagers in. dividually would keep a few ftocks, nearly all the honey and wax this country could produce might be colleGted. This would not only benefit individuals, but might alfo be of real national utility*.”

lt is added, that“ large heaths and commons, furrounded with woods, are noted for being abundantly productive; the firft abounding with wild thyme, and yarious

* Keys on the Management of Bees.