136 
SPRING. 
Had they been placed six feet apart, instead of four 
inches, he probably would not have lost any, or even 
two feet might have saved them. I have often moved 
them at this season, and placed them at three feet dis- 
tance, and had no bad results. 
Facts like the foregoing, satisfied me long since that 
stocks should occupy their situation for the summer, 
as early as possible in the spring, at least before they 
mark the location ; or if they must be moved after 
that, let it be nothing short of a mile and a half, and 
plenty of room between the hives. 
SPACE BETWEEN HIVES. 
As regards the distance between hives generally, I 
would say let it be as great as convenience will allow. 
W ant of room makes it necessary sometimes to set them 
close ; where such necessity exists, if the hives were 
.dissimilar in color, some dark, others light, alternately, 
it would greatly assist the bees in knowing their own 
hive. But it should be borne in mind, that whenever 
economy of space dictates less than two feet, there are 
often bees enough lost by entering the wrong hive, 
which, if saved, would pay the rent of a small addition 
to a garden, or bee-yard. I have several other reasons 
to offer for giving plenty of room between hives, which 
will be mentioned hereafter. 
SMALL MATTERS. 
The reader who is accustomed to doing things on 
gigantic principles, will consider this long “yarn" 
about saving a few bees in spring, a rather small 
