Une Lownsena Bee Book 33 
It is a good plan to contract the entrances in the spring to 
conform to the size of the colonies. In this way, not only the heat 
is retained but the bees in the weak colonies are usually able to 
defend themselves. When the entrance-blocks have been thus 
adjusted they should not be disturbed until some of the strong 
colonies need larger openings. 
If the beginner would go into a beeyard and find robbing 
going on, his first thought would be to contract the entrances of 
the weak colonies. This might be the wise thing to do; but rob- 
bers are in the air that have secured a taste of honey from some 
source, and they are watching for a chance to secure more. If 
any one were to light a smoker and go into the yard with the air 
full of robbers, such robbers would very likely be attracted, espe- 
cially if the guards at the entrances. of the weak colonies were 
smoked so that the blocks could be adjusted. Therefore, if any 
change must be made with such weak colonies it should be made 
at night, when the bees are through flying for the day, so that all 
will be quiet the next morning. 
Of course, when the honey season opens later on, such trouble 
with robbing quickly disappears, for bees do not rob each other 
to any extent when they can get nectar from natural sources. 
