"Long from the eye of man and face of day. Involved in darkness all their customs lay, Until a sage well versed in Nature's lore, A genius formed all science to explore; Hives well contrived, in crystal frames disposed. And there the busy citizens disclosed." Murphy's _Vaniere_. [Illustration: Exterior of an Apiary. As originally erected in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park.] [Illustration: Interior of an Apiary. May be taken as suggestive for the construction or appropriation of rooms for the larger Apiaries in summer-houses or other out-buildings.] THE NEW BOTTLE-FEEDER. [Illustration] It has long been acknowledged that the best mode of feeding bees is through an opening at the top of the stock-hive. The new bottle-feeder is a simple and good means of administering food when a stock requires help in that way, as bees can take the food from it without leaving the hive. Any kind of hive that has an opening at the top may thus be fed. Another important feature is the cleanliness with which liberal feeding can be accomplished; and few operations require more care than does feeding. If liquid sweet is left hanging about the hive, it tempts robber-bees; and when once the bees of an apiary have had a taste, there is no knowing where their depredations will stop: they resolutely attack and endeavour to rob other hives, fighting and killing one another to a considerable extent. Even if no hives be completely destroyed, weakness from loss of numbers will be the portion of most, if not of all, the hives in the garden.