72 ROBBING. 
Before taking the trouble to remove a hive as here 
directed, care should be taken to be certain that the 
bees are being robbed. You can be sure whether it is 
your own bees or others that are robbing, by sprinkling 
them with flour as they come from the hive which you 
suspect is being robbed, and watching your other hives, 
to see if those you have marked enter them, being very 
careful that you are not deceived by the dust from some 
species of blossoms, which adhere to the body of the bee, 
and might be mistaken for the flour. 
Bees when plundering a stock will often keep at their 
work until dark, some of them being unable to find their 
hive by reason of the darkness. Honest workers are not 
found abroad at that time, and by the way, this is a very 
good test of robbing. In concluding this chapter, I advise 
again: Know the condition of your stocks at all times. 
If any have too few bees, contract the entrances in 
accordance with that number of bees to pass. Preventa- 
tive is much better than cure in this case. 
