1 8 A Modern Bee- Farm 



place, if precautions are not taken. As far as possible, 

 while on a tour the larger apiary should be visited last, 

 and the work so timed that it will be completed towards 

 dusk, and no combs from the extractor should be returned 

 till then. These remarks apply to Autumn in particular, 

 though there are other periods when honey is not coming 

 in, and not only then, but at all times the owner should 

 be very careful not to give his bees a chance even to start 

 robbing, with its consequent fighting, loss, and annoyance. 



Preventive measures are of course the first considera- 

 tion, and in the case of fairly large apiaries some bee-proof 

 shelter is a great necessity, as many operations may there 

 be carried on which would be impossible in the open. 

 Many of the stocks may be carried into such shelter for 

 examination or deprivation ; and besides being invaluable 

 for extracting, will be found most useful for queen-rearing 

 and many other purposes. 



If through negligence in carelessly allowing honey or 

 syrup to be exposed in the apiary, the 



Robbing flania 



has once commenced, as may also be induced by the in- 

 judicious opening of hives, or badly fitting floors, etc., 

 then the uninitiated will find he has let loose a power 

 which will require his coolest judgment to enable him 

 to subdue. I have known horses, chickens, dogs, and 

 other animals severely attacked by bees because the skep 

 of a neighbour having been placed upon an old block 

 cracked in every direction, offered capital openings for a 

 host of determined robbers, whom I found coming and 

 going like some irresistible hurricane. All openings, 

 except one reduced to a f-inch tubular passage-way, were 

 immediately stopped ; the watering can was freely used, 

 -and dripping sacks left over the skep. In a few minutes 



