Hive stand : distance between hives

[m100]

I have hive stands that take 2 hives. The hives are six inches apart. If you put more on a stand you can only inspect them from the back! If you have two hives you can inspect from at least one side which is much more convenient. Try it with three hives near each other, how would you inspect the middle one......with difficulty I suspect!

Put the hives in the middle the warm way and inspect from the back well away from the flight line and with minimal disturbance.

The hives on the end they can also be inspected from the back, or fitted the cold way be inspected from the side (national polynucs can also go on the end and be inspected from the side)

If you have a hive that isn't capable of being used the warm way and you need to fit it in the middle of a long hive stand then you are stuffed. It's just like having a Dartington / Beehaus. Just get used to a really awkward way of hefting frames out.