BEE PASTURAGE. 
113 
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. C5f 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 they 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 color of flour 
might deceive us. It is difficult to prove that bees go 
