148 SPEING. 



your bees may be ruined. We will, tbereibre, give 

 some other means of protection. 



Bees, when they have been stealing a sack of honey 

 from a neighboring hive, will generally run several 

 inches from the entrance before flying : kill some of 

 these ; if filled with honey, they are robbers ; because 

 it is very suspicious, to be filled with honey when 

 leaving the hive; or sprinkle some flour on them «s 

 they come out, and have some one watch by the others 

 to see if they enter. Another way is less trouble, 

 but will take longer, before they are checked, if rob- 

 bing. Yisit them again in the course of half an hour 

 or more, after the young bees have had time to get 

 back, (if it should happen to be them) ; but if the 

 bustle continues or increases, it is time to interfere. 

 When the entrance has been contracted as directed, 

 close it entirely till near sunset. When it has been left 

 without, it should now be done, (giving room for only 

 one bee at a time). This will allow all that belong 

 to the hive to get in, and others to get out, and mate- 

 rially retard the progress of the robbers. 



ROBBING USUALLY COMMENCES ON A WARM DAT. 



Unless it should be cool, they will continue their 

 operations till evening. Very often some are unable 

 to get home in the dark, and are lost. This, by the 

 way, is another good test of robbing. Visit the hives 

 every warm evening. They commence depredations 

 on the warmest days ; seldom otherwise. If any are 

 at work when honest laborers should be at home, they ' 

 need attention. 



