CHAPTER XV.
Means of preventing the Bees from being stolen, especially in the Country.
I entirely disapprove of Houses of every description for Bees, as a protection against weather, because they tend in various ways most effectually to destroy the lives of those valuable insects, for, as before stated, they form a shelter for, and promote the increase of some of their most determined enemies; but there are other things to provide against, not only robbers of their own species, but those who would carry away hives as well as honey, and at the request of a friend, who has twice been deprived of all his hives by this latter description of robbers—I am induced to give what in my opinion is the best kind of house to answer this purpose, and likely to be the least injurious to the Bees. It may be sufficiently wide to allow of six hives with a milk-pan upon each, to be placed in a line, which will occupy about eleven feet, its depth may be about twenty-two inches, the top and ends weather boarded, the front and back composed of wood or iron bars, placed so that a small hive or box will not pass between them, the front ones may be fixed, but those at the back must be made to remove, and secured by a lock.
At fifteen inches from the ground must be placed two pieces of wood, about four inches square, well secured by cross pieces at the ends of the house, and by an upright in the middle, upon these pieces place the boards on which the hives stand, sufficient height must be given to allow of two boxes to be placed upon a hive, three feet at least should be allowed.
Another method of security may be adopted which is equally effective, and as the inconveniences of a House are avoided, perhaps it is the most preferable. It is to have a stout iron ring of four inches in diameter, a little flattened at the sides so as to become oval, worked in the back of the Hive a little below its centre, when the Hives are placed in a line upon pedestals of equal height, a chain may be passed through these rings, and locked at each end.