34 A. AND M. COLLEGE APIARY. 



Another and better method is to cut out the combs from the box hive, 

 selecting the straightest of them, fit into the frames and fasten them 

 there by wrapping with a light cotton cord. Replace these frames in the 

 new hive, which should now be located on the former location of the box 

 hive, and the bees shaken into it or dumped in front of it. By this 

 method, with reasonable care, robbing is prevented and all honey and 

 brood is saved, as well as time saved the bees in constructing new comb. 



ROBBING. 



If bits of honey be dropped about the apiary, or left where bees can 

 obtain access to them, this will start what is termed "robbing." The bees 

 finding this- honey will gather it up and carry it away to their respective 

 hives. When this supply is exhausted they will greedily search for more, 

 and if none is to be found will attack some adjacent hive. If the colony 

 in the latter is weak, the invaders will conquer, killing a majority of the 

 rightful occupants, destroy the brood, and carry off the honey. If the 

 attacked colony is strong a pitched battle ensues, the result of which will 

 be hundreds of dead bees on both sides, even though the robbers be re- 

 pulsed. Once in the habit of robbing, this habit is liable to be kept up 

 for days or even weeks. Whenever a hive is opened the robbers are on 

 hand and immediately plunge in. For this reason no honey should ever 

 be left exposed and during a dearth of honey hives should not be kept 

 open longer than is absolutely necessary. 



When robbing has once started, the entrances of all adjacent hives, and 

 especially of the hive being attacked, should be closed down to a small 

 aperture. Wet grass or weeds thrown over the entrance of the attacked 

 hive will also assist its inmates in repelling the robbers. 



PREPARATION OF BEES FOR WINTER 



In the Texas climate, extensive preparations for winter are unneces- 

 sary, except that all colonies should be strong in numbers, be in tight 

 weather-proof hives, and have ample stores of honey. These three re- 

 quirements, however, hold good at all times. The careful and often 

 extensive wintering preparations of the North, such as packing with chaff 

 cushions, placing in cellar, etc., are here unnecessary. At approach of 

 cold weather the entrances should be closed down to a small opening, 

 depending in size upon the severity of cold and the strength of the col- 

 ony, to better enable the bees to maintain the temperature of the hive. 



FEEDING. 



If deficient in numbers or in stores in the autumn, and no fall honey 

 flow comes on, the bees should be fed both to stimulate brood rearing and 

 especially to furnish supplies for winter. While there are a number of 

 devices for this purpose, the one which has given best results and the one 

 which does not in any way encourage robbing, is the one called the Doo- 

 little or ^division-board" feeder, illustrated in Fig. 16. This consists 

 of a trough having in its top a half inch auger hole; this trough or 

 feeder is placed in the hive, in place of one of the lateral frames. Feed 

 should be made of one part granulated sugar and two parts of water. 



