210 I'ORTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES. 



together and clinch the nails. I use the other two pieces 

 of lath for the opposite edge of the cloth. This makes 

 a good robber-cloth just as it is, but it is better to have 

 the ends also weighted down, especially on a windy day. 

 For this purpose I make a hem in each end, and put in it 

 shot, nails, pebbles, or something of the kind, stitching 

 across the hem here and there so the weighting material 

 will not all run together at one side or the other. 



QUICK COVERING WITH ROBBER-CLOTH. 



In any case where one wants to cover up a hive 

 quickly against robbers, as when opening and closing 

 the same hive frequently for the sake of putting in or 

 taking out combs, this robber-cloth will be found a great 

 convenience. No careful adjustment is needed, as in 

 putting on a regular hive-cover, but one can take hold 

 of the lath with one hand, and with a single throw the 

 hive is covered securely, with no killing of bees if any 

 should happen to be in the way. 



MILLER TENT-iiSCAPE. 



Having made the robber-cloth, an escape, not in the 

 shape of a cone, but in the shape of a pyramid, is 

 fastened centrally upon it (Fig. 73). Take three equi- 

 lateral pieces of wire-cloth, each of the three sides meas- 

 uring II inches. Put them together in the form of a 

 tent, sewing the edges together at the three sides by 

 weaving fine wire through. At the top, however, let 

 each of the pieces be folded out, so that a hole large 

 enough to push your finger in will be left. Lay the tent 

 centrally on the robber-cloth, and mark where the three 

 corners of the tent come. Now starting at each of these 

 points, cut the cloth to the center. Cut away the three 

 flaps of cloth all but about 1^4 inches, and turn this i^- 



