86 



DADANT SYSTEM OF BEEKEEPING 



Fig. 48. Supers returned to the hives after the last extracting of the year 



the two colonies for each other, placing the robbing colony in 

 place of the robbed one and vice versa. A little flour, sprinkled 

 over the escaping robbers, readily indicates their home. 



If the robbing has just begun, it is usually sulftcient to throw 

 a bunch of grass loosely upon the entrance of the robbed col- 

 ony. Its home guards station themselves in that grass as in 

 trenches and pounce upon the robbers who soon give up the 

 attempt. 



But it is much easier to forestall robbing than to stop it 

 after it has successfully begun. Therefore we take the greatest 

 care to avoid exposing any honey while extracting. 



We use both robber-cloths over the supers while carrying 

 them and tin pans under them, to avoid dropping any honey on 

 the wheelbarrow used, or on the grass, or on the clothes of the 

 apiarist. It is worth while to be careful. One experience with 

 robbing is sufficient to teach us a useful lesson. 



