On arrival at their destination, all hives should be
speedily placed where they are to stand, the wire on their
crowns removed, and their own lids put on, then covered,
and their doors opened. If the weather and time of day


170 HANDY BOOK OF BEES.
be favourable for honey-gathering when the bees arrive,
they will begin to work in less than fifteen minutes after
having been set at liberty, if they have not suffered dur-
ing the journey. How quickly bees find honey-flowers
and return with loads from them may be seen in placing
hives in a strange locality on a fine day. If they have
suffered from being over-heated by the way, the bees will
not go into full work for one or two days afterwards,


STOCK-HIVES. 171


CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE SELECTION AND PREPARATION OF STOCK-HIVES
FOR ANOTHER YEAR,


Tuis is a very important matter in the profitable manage-
ment of bees, and “bad luck” is often the consequence of
inattention to it. When we see our hedgerows and the
fruit-trees of our orchards covered with blossoms in spring,
we should not forget that we are indebted to the autumn
suns of last year for the beauty and abundance that meet
our eyes, Those suns ripened the wood, filled the buds,
and set the flowers before the cold and snows of winter
came. This year’s suns can develop those buds into
blossoms and fruit. So the autumn treatment of bees is
to be considered of primary importance.
In selecting hives for keeping, one should have his eye
on many points.
