OUR FRIENDS, THE BEES 
for those containing only [| | 
honey. We soon determined 
that it was the warmth from ; 
the cluster that especially at- |§ | 4) 
tracted them; and, as the | 
hives were directly on ‘the 
ground, the ants soon moved 
into several that contained 
only a small cluster and for 
a while both used one com- 
mon entrance. 
As the bees increased they 
began to show a decided 
aversion to having two 
families in the same house, 
although the ants were evi- 
dently inclined to be peace- 
able enough until the bees 
tried to “push” matters, 
when they turned about and 
showed themselves fully able 
to hold possession. 
The bees seemed to be studying over 
the matter for a while, and finally we 
found them one day taking the ants, one 
by one, and carrying them high up in the 
air and letting them drop at such a dis- 
tance from their home that they would 
surely never be able to walk back again. 
The bees, as fast as they became strong 
colonies, drove the ants out; and our ex- 
perience ever since has been that a good 
colony of bees is never in any danger 
of being troubled in the least by ants. 
One weak colony, after battling awhile 
with a strong nest of the ants, swarmed 
out; but they might have done this any- 
way, so we do not lay much blame to 
the ants. 
But ants do prove to be very annoying 
in those apiaries where there is any at- 
tempt to keep the grass down with a 
lawn-mower. The little hillocks that 
they make all over the yard disfigure it 
to some extent, as well as forming more 
or less obstruction to the scythe and 
lawn-mower. 
BREEDING BEES FOR IMPROVED VARIETIES 
In the breeding of domestic animals it 
is possible to mate together a choice male 
and a choice female. Much could be ac- 
complished in the way of improved stock 
Photo from “A B Cand X Y Z of Bee Culture,” by A. I. and E. R. Root 
A COLONY WITH AN ENTRANCE TOO SMALL, WHERE 
THE BEES HAVE FORMED THE LOAFING HABIT 
if we could also control the male parent- 
age of bees, and we do not know but that 
in-breeding, according to modern meth- 
ods now known in stock-raising, might 
Seciiren foi US wal face votmbees) Sreatly 
superior to anything we now know. 
Just at present it seems very desirable 
that bees with longer tongues be bred, 
so that the nectar in the deep corolla- 
tubes of red clover, in the horsemint of 
Texas, and the mountain sages of Cali- 
fornia, as well as hundreds of other 
flowers, could be reached. Tons and 
tons of honey might thus be secured that 
otherwise goes to waste. 
*Bee-keeping is one of the best of the 
life-saving, nerve-healing avocations. It 
takes the mind from household cares as 
completely as would a trip to Europe, 
for one cannot work with bees and 
think of anything else. Some of the 
attributes which make bee-keeping an 
interesting avocation [ will mention. 
First of all, bees are such wonderful 
creatures and so far beyond our com- 
prehension that they have for us always 
the fascination of an unsolved problem. 
I never pass our hive without mentally 
asking, “Well, you dear little rascals, 
what will you do next?” 
* This and following paragraphs were writ- 
ten by Mrs. Anna B. Comstock. 
