78 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 



May- 



aided far and wide, but the failures are 

 seldom heard of. Often, on the other 

 hand, bees left almost entirely to them- 

 selves yield far better returns than 

 those most carefully handled. Let the 

 timid or anxious novice and the busy 

 man who can ill spare the time for at- 

 tention to his pets, take comfort from 

 this and fear not to leave the bees to 

 themselves. 



Several years ago I was called away 

 for a six months' trip, the start being 

 made early in spring. I had at that 

 time some dozen or fifteen colonies, and 

 these I looked over and saw that they 

 had abundant stores, after which I put 

 two supers each on most of the colo- 

 nies, fixed the hives and covers so no 



against constant meddling with the 

 bees, and to call attention to the value 

 of the"let-alone" plan. 

 Providence, R. I., April 8th, 1902. 



The Bee Hoth. 



(By Bessie L. Putnam.) 



WHILE this is generally acknowl- 

 edged as the worst enemy to 

 the bee, eminent authorities 

 tell us that Italian or even hybrid col- 

 onies will seldom be molested, and 

 there is no surer preventive against 

 their inroads than a good strong 

 swarm. 

 Yet there are many strands of just 



NEW COMB, UNMOLESTED BY MOTHS. 



ordinary wind could move them, and 

 left. On my return I found a goodly 

 crop of honey, the bees in excellent con- 

 dition for winter and a report of but 

 four swarms, three of which were hived 

 for me by a neighbor and one left for 

 parts unknown. Perhaps other colonies 

 swarmed, but there was no evidence of 

 it. Some of the most earnest advo- 

 cates of much manipulation have made 

 the least real progress, while some of 

 the most successful bee-keepers do the 

 least "tinkering." , 



Do not construe the foregoing as an 

 advocacy of ignorance of how and what 

 to do when the need arises, for it is 

 intended solely as a word of caution 



common bees in the country; and even 

 though so strongly guarded as to be 

 practically immune from their attacks, 

 in view of protecting the combs remov- 

 ed during the summer months, it is 

 well to understand something of the na- 

 ture, appearance, and habits of the wily 

 pest. 



The moth is of a dull gray color, 

 which renders it comparatively incon- 

 spicuous among old boards and bits of 

 weather-stained wood. It is exceed- 

 ingly quick in movement, having been 

 aptly styled by Reaumer, as "nimble- 

 footed," and any but a sharp, trained 

 eye might easily overlook it as it slips 

 among the crevices. Then its work is 



