104 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



a very few inches up to several feet. The only time 

 any serious difficulty occurs is early in the spring, 

 when they first fly out, and have not yet fairly marked 

 their locality; and before their nationality is fairly 

 established, they are liable to get into the wrong 

 hive. Some hives will be found destitute, if too close. 

 Then again, when young queens go abroad to meet 

 the drones, they are likely to get into the wrong hive 

 on their return, and thus be lost. This may be 

 averted by putting a distinctive mark on the front of 

 each hive that is known to be maturing a young 

 queen, or by having the front of each hive to diifer 

 from the adjoining <5nes; in fact, it is better to do 

 this even when they are some distance apart, but in 

 a straight row. I would advise all who can do so, 

 to keep their hives from one and a half to three feet 

 apart. 



BEE HOUSES. 



I very much doubt the utility of bee houses, as 

 they are generally constructed. I have seen one or 

 two in which bees seemed to do pretty well, but am 

 well satisfied they will not pay, for general use. I 

 agree exactly with Mr. Quinby on this point, who 

 says they are objectionable on account of preventing 

 a free circulation of air. It is difficult to construct 

 them so that the sun may strike the hives both in 

 the morning and afternoon, which, in spring time, is 

 very essential. If they front south, the middle of 

 the day is the only time when the sun can reach all 

 the hives at once; this is just when they need it 

 least, and in hot weather is sometimes injurious, by 



