BEE PASTUJRAGE. 118 



of three or four miles, there are kept about three hun- 

 dred stocks. I have had for several years, three apia- 

 ries about two miles apart, averaging in spring a little 

 more than fifty in each.- When a good season for clo- 

 ver occurs, as many more would probably do equally 

 well, but in some other seasons I have had too many ; 

 on an average nearly right. When clover furnishes 

 too little honey for the number, buckwheat usually 

 supplies more than is collected. Of surplus honey, the 

 proportion is about fifteen pounds of buckwheat to one 

 of clover. I have now been speaking of large apiaries. 

 There can hardly be a section of country found, that 

 man can procure his living, but what a few stocks 

 would, thrive, even if there were no dependence on 

 the sources just mentioned. There will be some honey- 

 yielding flowers in nearly all places. The evil of over- 

 stocking is of short duration, and will work its own 

 cure speedily. Some judgment is required here as well 

 as in other matters. 



Another question of some interest, is the distance 

 that a bee will travel in search of honey in flowers — 

 it is evident that it will be farther than they will go 

 to plunder a stock. I have heard of their being found 

 seven miles from home. It was said tljey ascertained, 

 by sprinkling flour on them as they left the hive in 

 the morning, and then- saw the same bees that distance 

 away. When we consider the chances of finding a bee 

 even one mile from the hive thus marked, it appears 

 like a "poor look ;" and then pollen the coloPof 3our 

 might deceive us. It is difficult to prove that bees go 



