>  I surmised that the different heights (.2 , 6.5 and 13 feet) in the round configurations impeded drifting 

Right. I think that was pretty clever, imitating how colonies might aggregate in the wild. But as you say, not much practical use. We would be better served by comparing various real world apiary configs. I suspect as long as they are in a group of some sort, it makes little difference if they are colored, or rotated, or what have you.

Speaking of widely dispersed hives,, when I was working as an apiary inspector, I met a beekeeper who kept his hives in very small groups, sometimes just two, on farms spread a mile or two apart. He told me that after working even two hives, he would be getting tired and want to get back in the truck. (He died soon after I met him).

plb

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