316 ROBBERY. 



to provide sufficient shade to prevent a half-melt, 

 which is liable to occur when the weather is warm. 



All unnecessary opening of hives should be avoided 

 at such times, (and when required, let it be done late 

 in the afternoon) as it confuses them and allows the 

 entrance of spies, who will appropriate at least one 

 load, and probably return for more. 



HOW A CONQUERED FAMILY MAY BE SAVED. 



When a family is once conquered,* that contains 

 a quantity of bees worth saving, the hive should be 

 closed up till towards evening, and then opened, to 

 allow the intruders to depart. By sprinkling flour 

 on them as they are leaving, and observing the hives 

 which they enter, they can be diverted for a time 

 from their belligerent purpose by moving their hive 

 one or two feet from its position, and uncapping some 

 honey, to give them employment at home. 



The subdued hive may be kept closed for one or 

 two days, and then a small aperture opened for their 

 egress and ingress ; they are then to be carefully 

 watched, to see if the attack is renewed. The hive 

 should never be removed to a different place, unless 

 to the distance of not less than half a mile ; this is 

 found to be the most effective plan, as, by removing 



* That a conquered hive of bees incorporate themselves with 

 the victors, is mere guess-work. I find no experiment on record 

 to prove the assertion, and I have seen no instance that would 

 for a moment lead to such a belief. 



