Tkxas Beekeeping. 



59 



a colony that may be found queenless, a comb with eggs, or very young 

 larvae, should be given so that one may be reared and the colony 

 saved. If queenlessness is discovered too late, however, the best 

 remedy with laying workers is to unite the colony in which they are 

 found to exist, with a normal colony. As it is impossible to intro- 

 duce a queen to such a laying worker colony, and they are, as a rule, 

 more or less weak in number of bees when discovered, the most 

 practicable thing to do is to save the remaining bees and the combs. 

 If increase is desired, at a time when such can be done, the united 

 colony may be divided again, and a new queen introduced to the new 

 colony. This method is the most practical way of dealing with this 

 problem. 



BOBBING. 



The utmost care and precaution should be exercised at all times 

 to prevent what is termed "robbing," which, when once started, 

 may end seriously if not taken in hand immediately. During a 

 dearth, when nectar is scarce in the fields, the bees continue their 

 search and will appropriate any honey they can find and obtain ac- 

 cess to. Once they have an opportunity to get a taste of honey thus 

 easily obtained, they continue to fly around a long time hunting for 

 more. It is far easier to prevent robbing than to cure the trouble, 

 and therefore no honey, or combs, or other sweets, however little, 

 should be left where the bees can get at them. A hive should never 



be kept open too long and 

 !xposed to the attack of 

 ,hese prowling bees, who will 



pounce upon it if they can 



secure any honey, and will 



be joined by other bees from 



their own and other hives as 



soon as these learn of the 



find. While strong colonies 



may be able to defend them- 

 selves against such an attack, 



the loss of bees, during the 



pitched battle between the in- 

 mates and the robbers, is 



serious, and weak colonies, 



not strong enough to defend 



themselves, will be destroyed. 

 If it becomes necessary to 



work with the bees in the 



apiary when robbers are bad, 



it should be done under a 



tent made for the purpose. 



These are variously construct- 

 ed. One kind much in use, is 



about five feet square and can ^j^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ 



be folded up when not in use. 

 It is very difficult to entirely stop robbing at once, if it has gotten 



