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 ie,^ first principles in bee-keeping which 

 ought to be as familiar to the apiarist as the letters of the 

 alphabet. 



I^'irst. Bees gorged with honey never volunteer an 

 attack. 



Second. Bees may always be made peaceable by induc- 

 ing them to accept of liquid sw^eets. 



Third. Bees, when frightened by smoke or by drum- 

 ming on their hives, fill themselves with honey and lo^e 

 all disposition to sting, unless they are hurt. 



Fourth. Bees dislike anv quick 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 cheapest 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 bee- 

 master, as well as a bee-keeper, and may safely calculate 

 on generous returns from your industrious subjects. 

 " Keep all colonies strong P 



