48 
BEE-CULTURE. 
quite certain that a great number of them would be lost if 
the hive be moved more than two or three feet £rom their old 
stand. They would either wander about until they would 
die, or they would attempt to enter another hive and bo 
killed. If I wish to move a hive a few rods after the bees 
have their course, I move them two or three feet each day, 
until I get them from among other hives. Then move them 
three or four feet each day, thus tolling them along until I 
get them where I want them. When they have been moved 
a short distance, the search seems to make them note the new 
position of their home. 
WHEN MOVED A DISTANCE. 
The result is different when the hive has been moved a 
half mile or more; they note the new locality and all 
return to it. If the hive is closed and shook or rapped on, 
or the bees smoked to alarm them when moving them a short 
distance, they are much more likely to note the new locality 
when they come out. 
HIVES CLOSE TOGETHER. 
From the foregoing facts may be seen some of the disad- 
vantages of having hives of uniform size, shape, and color 
sitting close together, especially when there are any operations 
to be performed requiring any change of the positions of hives. 
It can be seen, too, how if two hives in the same yard are to 
be united, if it is desired to save all the bees, they should be 
first brought together gradually. 
A QUEEN MAY MISS ITS IIIVE. 
Another serious disadvantage from having hives sitting 
close together is, that the queen, in going out on her hymen- 
eal excursions, and returning to the hive, may make the lu- 
dicrous mistake of entering a neighboring hive and getting 
killed, which at this time would prove fatal to her colony as 
they would have no brood to rear another. 
THE COVER OF THE HIVE. 
A cheap cover is as good as any, so it keeps off the rain and 
the sun. A wide board, three feet long, with strips nailed 
