438 Axioms in Bee Keeping. 
AXIOMS. 
The following axioms, given by Mr. Langstroth, are just 
as true to-day as they were when written by that noted 
author: 
There are a few first principles in bee-keeping which 
ought to be as familiar to the apiarist as the letters of the 
alphabet. 
First. Bees gorged with honey never volunteer an 
attack. 
Second. Bees may always be made peaceable by induc- 
ing them to accept of liquid sweets. 
Third. Bees, when frightened by smoke or by drum- 
ming on their hives, fill themselves with honey and lose 
all disposition to sting, unless they are hurt. 
Fourth. Bees dislike any guick movements about their 
hives, especially any motion which jars their combs. 
fifth. In districts where forage is abundant only for a 
short period, the largest yield of honey will be secured by 
a very moderate increase of stocks. 
Sixth. A moderate increase of colonies in any one 
season, will, in the long run, prove to be the easiest, safest, 
and cheapést mode of managing bees. 
Seventh. Queenless colonies, unless supplied with a 
queen, will inevitably dwindle away, or be destroyed by 
the bee moth, or by robber bees. 
Eighth. The formation of new colonies should ordin- 
arily be confined to the season when bees are accumulating 
honey; and if this, or any other operation, must be per- 
formed when forage is scarce, the greatest precaution 
should be used to prevent robbing. 
The essence of all profitable bee-keeping is contained in 
Oettl’s Golden Rule: KEEP YOUR STOCKS STRONG. ,If 
you cannot succeed in doing this, the more money you 
invest in bees, the heavier will be your losses; while, if 
your stocks are strong, you will show that you are a dee- 
master, as well as a bee-keeper, and may safely calculate 
on generous returns from your industrious subjects. 
“ Keep all colonies strong.” 
