THE APIAET. 75 



These facts are of yalue to the beginner, and shoald be 

 carefully observed, until experience dictates what modifi- 

 cations are allowable. Modern experiments prove that 

 by observing the necessary conditions, bees may be moved 

 short distances without detriment. 



I have, in the evening, prepared hives for removal, and 

 taken them, before light the next morning, three miles 

 away, and was positive that not a bee had escaped from 

 the hives. Before noon, quite a number of bees could be 

 seen flying around the stands from which the hives had 

 been removed. I naturally inferred, that these bees had 

 found their way back from the new location. I am now 

 fully convinced that I was in error. These, I think, 

 were bees that had left the hive, so late the night pre- 

 vious, that they were overtaken by darkness, and were 

 unable to reach their home. After becoming sufficiently 

 warm the next morning, they had returned to find them- 

 selves homeless. 



C. C. Van Deusen, of Sprout Brook, JST. Y., purchased 

 several swarms of a neighbor about half a mile distant, 

 and moved them to his own yard, after their lines were 

 thoroughly established at home. Upon releasing them, 

 he smoked them thoroughly, so that all filled themselves 

 completely with honey, and the result was, that the new 

 location was marked, and no bees returned to the former 

 stands. 



In 1869 we purchased twenty swarms of bees in box 

 hives and moved tnem two miles. We afterwards desired 

 to move them half a mile, and did so, but before releasing 

 them, transferred them to movable frames. This opera- 

 tion so thoroughly confused and demoralized them, that 

 this new location was marked, and there was no resulting 

 loss. I have never found it necessary to move bees 

 shorter distances, yet I see no reason why, with the requi- 

 site care and skill in manipulation, they may not be 

 moved to as little distance as may be desired, especially. 



