74 PROFITABLE BEE-KEEPING 



place on a large scale and many bees aire killed. 

 The strong stocks rob out the weak ones, and 

 when these are finished off. fight fiercely among 

 themselves in their endeavours to rob each other. 

 As a rule one strong stock cannot rob out another 

 which is equally strong, or even moderately strong, 

 if the weaker one has a little 1 assistance from the 

 apiarist. 



The great thing is to check robbing at the very, 

 commencement, to nip it in the bud before the 

 business has time to get fairly under way. If it 

 becomes a serious case it is very difficult to put 

 it down, and it certainly means the removal of 

 nuclei and weak colonies to another apiary for 

 the time being. 



Robbing is nearly always caused by careless- 

 ness on the part of the apiarist himself. He 

 throws bits of comb about on the grass, keeps - 

 the hives open too long, or leaves supers of honey, 

 thoughtlessly exposed. Honey or syrup is spilled 

 about the apiary and the deed is done. The 

 trouble commences at the close of the honey flow, 

 and if it is fairly started it will often go on in- 

 termittently until the frosts put an end to the 

 predatory warfare. 



It should never really get a start, and certainly 

 ought never to get out of hand if due care is 

 exercised. Honey must be removed from the 

 hives in the evening, and examinations of colonies 

 made at that time also whenever possible. The 

 bees will then have ceased flying. No sweets of 



