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be very strong. There is always the tendency of bees of a weak 

 colony to enter the hives of a strong colony during the first 

 spring flight. If location of hives has some distinguishing 

 marks and the distance apart is five feet or more, no serious 

 results will follow. 



Robbing 



One of the things that the bee-keeper should carefully guard 

 against is rotubing. A strong colony will rob a weak one in 

 the same yard, or they may go a distance of some miles and do 

 the same thing. When once a yard becomes thoroughly started 

 at robbing it is a serious matter. Aside from the bad effects on 

 colonies robbed, the bees usually become very cross and are 

 apt to sting any living thing in sight at some little distance from 

 the disturbance. They do not settle down as a rule, until 

 another good flow of nectar and are apt to make trouble 

 throughout the season. 



If only one colony is rdbbed, unless a valuable one, and the 

 affair is well under way, they should be allowed to complete the 

 job, taking care that all colonies in the yard have their entrance 

 closed enough so they can easily defend themselves against 

 robbers particularly those near the robbed ones. If robbing 

 has not progressed far, it may be stopped by closing the hive 

 entirely for twenty-four hours, providing ventilation, and when 

 opened, having entrance very small for a time. 



Robbing usually starts through someone's carelessness in leav- 

 ing a hive open or combs outside the hive. Supers may have 

 been carelessly tiered up when taken off so as to allow bees to 

 enter. The same thing might happen in adjusting the escape 

 board, or by dropping bits of comb containing honey about the 

 yard. Prevention is the best remedy. 



When nectar is coming in freely, there is not so much danger 

 but in times of dearth it takes but little to start robbing. Hives 

 should not be opened any more than is absolutely necessary when 

 no nectar is coming in and then should not be kept open longer 

 than can be helped. If robbers start to make trouble, close the 

 hive quickly and narrow the entrance so that only a few can 

 pass at a time. 



