THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
53 
after removal of their hive to a new place, 
hover about a long time, and notice all the 
surroundings so as to mark the locality. 
When once they have done this they always 
come hack to exactly the same spot; but if 
the hive be moved after it is once in position 
for a day, the bees go back to the old position 
and hover about till they get exhausted and 
die, unless the new position is not more than 
four or five feet distant from the first position 
Again, if your hive of bees has come from any 
place within one and a-half or two miles, 
most of the bees on their first flight go back 
to their old home and either get into other 
hives or die about the place. So, if a 
“beginner” gets a hive or hives of bees 
to begin with, let him get them from some 
place at least two miles distant; and before 
he fixes them up at home let him decide 
where to place them once for all, and place 
them there before he allows them to fly. 
Precautions in moving bees from one place to 
another are necessary, and will be spoken of 
further on. 
As to the best position for placing a hive 
and how to place it. Select a part of the 
grounds or garden where the bees can be well 
overlooked. It must not be too much shaded, 
for plenty of sunlight is desirable, but some 
shade from the hot Summer sun is necessary ; 
it should not be too near the house, but should 
be sheltered as much as possible from the cold 
south and south-west winds. Beginners should 
place their hives on stands or benches standing 
not more than a foot from the ground and 
away from ditches, damp places, pools, or 
ponds. It is also very necessary that there 
be open space in front of the hives, to give 
room for bees to start their flight and swoop 
down on their alighting board when they come 
home without coming against any obstacle. 
No weeds or tall grass should be allowed to 
grow close around the hive. It does not much 
matter which way the entrance of the hive 
looks, but east or north-east is perhaps the 
best in Australia. 
It is assumed that, as a rule, “ beginners ” 
get their first bees in a box hive, that is, an 
ordinary box of some kind, a gin or other 
spirit case, a candle or soap box, a jam case, 
or some of the many easily got boxes in 
which most cottagers and farmers keep their 
bees. This being so, he must see, when he 
places it on its new stand, that it is weather- 
tight ; if not, he must put some cover over it 
to keep the rain out ; a good board, a piece of 
zinc or galvanised iron with some weight on 
top will do this. If the bees have several 
entrances through cracks or knot holes, let 
them be carefully covered, so that they always 
enter at one place only. See, also, that the 
Jloor or bottom board, which he will have to 
provide himself as a rule, is level, and allows 
the box to sit nice and flat on it, and stop any 
spaces around the edges of the box where 
bees may get in and out. 
When bees in box hives are moved from 
their old locality to a new one, they are usually 
imprisoned by tacking or tying a piece of 
coarse open canvas or cheesecloth over the 
bottom or the whole of the hive at night after 
they are all home, so that “ beginner ” must 
remove this before the bees can get out. He 
will proceed as follows : Place the hive upon 
th a floor board (which he has already prepared 
on his bench or stand) with the entrance 
directed the way he intends, then untack the 
canvas all around, leaving the entrance free, 
and if this is done in daylight (which is best) 
the bees will at once fly out, but being 
thoroughly frightened with their removal, 
will not attempt any attack or stinging. Now 
wait till they are all quiet in the evening, 
and gently lift the box off the floor board and 
draw the canvas from under it, replacing the 
hive without jar or shake. Next day, if fine, 
the bees will be all out playing about the hive, 
taking short flights and “bearings” of their 
new home. 
(To be continued.) 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
{To the Editors of the Australian Beekeepers' 
Journal.) 
Gentlemen, — In a recent issue of your 
Journal you asked for communications from 
subscribers. I venture to send you a little of 
my experience. I need hardly tell you I am 
quite a novice, starting last year with three 
gin cases as bee hives, which I bought at 
12s. 6d. each ; this year I have six Lang- 
stroth hives, and a gin case left from last 
year. I have taken three or four super boxes 
properly filled from one of mine. This I did 
at night without one sting. This fact made 
me a little gassey, and on a friend asking me 
to take the super boxes from his “ Langstroth,” 
I, with a friend, started at night to do this ; but 
as the bees seemed to be in the super boxes in 
great force I counselled morning action, as I 
had read in the A.B.C. (Root’s) that was the 
best time, consequently I and an old man 
started in the morning and removed the super 
box, putting on another. Then commenced 
the fun. The old man got several stings on 
his arms, and your humble servant a few on 
his arms and hands. As the boxes appeared 
to be full of bees, we thought it best to leave 
it till evening ; but, to better allow the bees 
