What is an apiary: the history of appearance and the secrets of honey collection, arrangement

Beekeeping is not just a craft, but a real art. Initially, beekeeping was widespread - the collection of beekeeping products produced by wild bees. Then people gradually learned to breed domestic insects in order to obtain honey and other valuable substances without going far from home. But even now, not every novice beekeeper knows what a personal apiary is, how to equip it and what is needed for this.

The story of the appearance of the first apiary

Honey apiary is a specially equipped area reserved for arranging bee hives. In beekeeping, it plays a key role in the breeding and maintenance of beneficial insects.

Beekeeping is an ancient craft that has not lost its relevance for many centuries of its existence. According to archaeological reports, the first mention of the use of bee products goes back 10-15 thousand years ago. But in those days, people were engaged in gathering - beekeeping was not practiced then.

Historians cannot even give an approximate date when the first arrangement of artificial "houses" for bees began. But it is reliably known that even primitive people learned to use hollow wood decks as houses for honey insects. This practice was especially common in ancient Egypt.

Interesting fact. A real breakthrough in beekeeping was made by Peter Prokopovich, a resident of the Russian Empire. In 1814, he created the first frame hives, which became the prototype for the current bee "houses".

Modern apiary

The current apiary is a whole complex consisting of structures that allow the beekeeper to control the entire cycle of reproduction, growth and life of insects.The basis is hives - small structures that serve as homes for beneficial insects. Here they grow, give birth, and are also engaged in the development and accumulation of valuable products - honey, pegi, propolis, royal jelly and pollen.

Another "house" is set up next to the main hives, called the control hive.

Thanks to him, the beekeeper gets the opportunity to understand if there are problems with the collection of nectar, and assess the intensity of accumulation of bee products.

Existing species

Arrangement of bee farming directly depends on the chosen direction. The general classification divides such beekeeping into the following groups:

Useful for increasing crop yields in large household or industrial farms. In addition, it is a source of bee products. to ensure pollination of agricultural crops. Collection of bee products is not carried out. It is customary to set up such farms near fields or directly inside greenhouses. Established to raise young bees for sale.

№	Apiary type	Feature and description
1	Commodity honey	The most popular variety.It is used to obtain different types of bee products - honey, wax, propolis and others.

Another type of apiary, which also belongs to the category of the most popular bee farms, is complex. It is equipped using the elements selected by the beekeeper, which were described earlier.

Classification also divides apiaries into stationary and portable. The names speak for themselves: stationary hives are always in one place, and mobile hives move from site to site.

Getting a passport

The veterinary and sanitary passport of the apiary is necessary not only for legal extraction, but also for the sale of beekeeping products. To get an official document, you must first write an application addressed to the chief sanitary doctor of the city or district.

In the application, you must indicate the address of the hives, indicate the number of bee colonies, indicate basic information about the applicant.

As soon as the document is considered, representatives of the veterinary service will visit the apiary. They will take product samples and assess the state of the environment. If no deviations from the norms are recorded, and the experts do not have any complaints about the territory being inspected, the owner of the apiary will receive a passport for the apiary.

Accommodation in the recreation area

Placement of beehives in the recreation area is not possible. It is impossible to place a bee farm less than half a kilometer from roads or railways.

For breeding bees in a summer cottage, the following nuances should be taken into account:

beehives should be located at least 3 meters from the neighboring plot of land;
the direction of bee entrances falls only on the opposite side from neighboring lands;
the apiary must be protected by a high fence or hedge around the perimeter, the height of the fence is at least 2 meters.

If you plan to place an apiary near neighboring houses, you must at least notify the neighbors about this. It is also worth asking if they or their loved ones are allergic to honeybee stings.

Procedure for granting land for apiaries

Beekeepers are provided with a land plot to accommodate an apiary in accordance with applicable law. Individuals and legal entities can apply for an allotment.

Nomadic apiaries must be placed near the sources of honey collection, but at a certain distance from other hives. To install bee farms on the territory of horticultural, horticultural or country non-profit associations, their constituent documents are used.

Arrangement

So, having figured out how to place an apiary and why you need a control hive, you should take note of a few more points. Equipping a bee farm, it is important to place drinking bowls on its territory. These are small trays filled with water or top dressing. They are necessary to feed and increase the productivity of insects.

It is also recommended to place utility buildings for general purposes in the apiary. Don't pay too much attention to their design or placement. The main thing is that they have dense walls and a strong foundation. Such buildings will serve as a winter hut, and serve as a kind of house for the beekeeper, where he can perform basic work and store the necessary equipment.

Arranging your own apiary is a laborious process. But beekeeping has always been in demand and popular. After all, the products produced by striped insects are he althy, so they will not lose their value.