I'KIi-VENTION. 381 



The Italian bees defend their hives much better than the 

 black (549) agauist the intrusion of robbers, and the Cypri- 

 ans and Syrians (559) surpass even the Italians. 



When a comb of honey breaks down in a hive from any 

 cause, it should be removed promptly, and the bottom-boaiJ 

 should be exchanged for a clean one at once. If any drops- of 

 honey fall about the apiary, it is best to cover them up with 

 earth promptly. In short, no honey should be left exposed, 

 where bees can plunder it. 



Of late years some Apiarists have practiced outdoor feeding 

 of thin watery honey on a large scale, to prevent robbing. 

 Their aim is to produce the same conditions as are made by 

 a crop of honey, supply all the bees with all they want, for 

 the time. The robbers are thus kejjt busy and do not think 

 about bothering the weak hives. We can see nothing accep- 

 table in this method and we find that advanced Apiarists agree 

 with us. Doctor C. C. Miller, on this subject, says : 



' ' I have fed barrels of sugar syrup in the open air, and it is 

 possible that circumstances may arise to induce me to do it 

 again, but I doubt it. There are serious objections to this out- 

 door feeding. You are not sure what portion of it your own 

 bees will get, if other bees are in flying distance. Consider- 

 able experience has proved to me that by this method, the 

 strong colonies get the lion's share, and the weak colonies very 

 little." — (Forty Years Among the Bees.) 



We are glad to see that so high an authority agrees with us 

 on this matter, for we have been considered as little short of 

 old-fogy, because we did not countenance outdoor feeding. 



