now BEES KNOW THEIR HOME. 
47 
KEEP HIVES SEPARATE. 
For different reasons it is preferable to have each hive on 
a separate stand, instead of the common practice of setting 
several on one board. When a number of hives arc on one 
board the bees are much inclined to run together to their 
great disadvantage, besides they are more likely to be 
crowded together. It is not good to have them closer than 
three or four feet apart. I would prefer where there is room 
to separate them ten feet. Persons sometimes tell me they 
have seen bee keepers who would set their bees down on the 
ground, here aud there and everywhere, apparently giving 
them no attention, and had more luck than those who built 
fine houses for them and went to great expense. I do not 
doubt it. They blundered on some good rules, but had they 
observed the same rules intentionally they would not have 
fared worse. Bee-houses will break the storm and keep the 
hives dry, in other respects they are a disadvantage. 
HOW BEES KNOW THEIR HOME. 
Bees are not attracted to their homo by instinct as by a 
magnet, but are governed by their senses in marking their 
locality. In early spring a large portion of the bees that fly 
out are young ones that have never been out, and the old 
ones having been confined to the hive by winter, seem to 
have forgotten their situation. Consequently when they fly 
out in the spring they do not leave the hive in a straight line, 
but only go a lew inches, then with their heads to the hive, 
and oscillate back and forth in front of it; then move farther 
back, still hovering in front of the hive with their heads al- 
ways towards the eutrance, occasionally advancing towards it, 
as if to note more particularly the exact place of entrance. 
Then after making a few larger circles in the air, they start 
in a straight line lor the distance. On returning they come 
directly to the hive arid enter. The surrounding objects 
and the color of the hive seem to be noted by the bees. Af- 
ter tees have got their course in the spring, should the hivo 
be moved two or three rods, they in flying out will not note 
tiro place; but if they are in clear open ground, they will 
generally find their place on returning. But should other 
objects intervene, or hives be sitting close by, it would be 
