SELECTING COLONIES FOR WINTER. 207 



Should any be found with too few bees for defence, they 

 arc quite sure to be plundered. Hence the necessity of 

 immediate action, that we may secure the contents in ad- 

 vance of the robbers. 



STRONG COLONIES INCLINED TO BOB. 



Strong stocks, that during a yield, have occupied every 

 cell with brood and honey, will, when it fails, soon have 

 cells left empty by the hatching of the young bees. The 

 want of honey to fill these empty cells, appears to be a 

 source of much uneasiness. Although such hives may be 

 well stored, I have ever found them much more disposed 

 to plunder, than weaker ones with but half the honey. As 

 very feeble families cannot be strengthened now, it is best 

 to remove them at once, and put temptation out of the 

 way. Carelessness is bat a sorry excuse for allowing bees 

 to establish this habit of dishonesty. Should any stocks 

 be weak from disease, the consequences would be even 

 more disastrous than bad habits. The reasons why such 

 impure honey should not go into thrifty stocks, have al- 

 ready been given. K we want the least possible trouble 

 with our bees, none but the best should be selected for 

 winter. 



BBQUISITBS OF GOOD STOCKS. 



But the requisites of a good stock, seem to be but par- 

 tially understood. Judging from the number lost annually, 

 too many bee-keepers are careless or ignorant in making 

 the selection. They seem to think that because a stock 

 has once been good, it will remain so. The condition of 

 bees is so changeable, especially in the summer and swarm- 

 ing season, that this idea should never be entertained. 

 We must know their present condition hy actual examina- 

 tion. 



The requisites of a good stock are, a hive of propei 



