TAKING REINS IN HAND 51 



the recollection of. the sharp screams of a little &quot; curl 

 pate &quot; that have once or twice pierced my ears, as 

 she ventured into too close companionship, has indis 

 posed me to any strong advocacy of the bees. 



My experience enables me to say that hives should 

 not be placed too near each other ; the bees have a 

 very human propensity to quarrel, and their quarrels 

 are ruinous. They blunder into each other s homes, 

 if near together, with a most wanton affectation of 

 forgetfulness ; and they steal honey that has been 

 carefully stored away in the cells of sister swarms, 

 with a vicious energy that they rarely bestow upon a 

 flower. In their field forays, I believe they are 

 respectful of each other s rights; but at home, if 

 only the order is once disturbed, and a neighbor 

 swarm shows signs of weakness, they are the most 

 malignant pirates it is possible to conceive of. 



Again, let no one hope for success in their treat 

 ment, unless he is disposed to cultivate familiarity ; 

 a successful bee-keeper loves his bees, and has a Avay 

 of fondling them, and pushing his intimacy about 

 the swarming time, which I would not counsel an 

 inapt or a nervous person to imitate. 



Gelieu, a Swiss authority, and a rival of Huber in 

 his enthusiasm, says : &quot; Beaucoup de gens aiment les 

 abeilles ; je n ai vu personne qui les aima mediocre 

 ment / on sepassionne pour elles.&quot; 



