FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 217 



ing' used up all the honey in their honej-saes, perhaps some 

 time after the robbers had ceased to pay any attention to them, 

 they had swarmed out as any hunger-swarm will do, and had 

 united, or tried to unite, with some other colony. Would they 

 not be likely to join some colony other than the one that had 

 treated them so unkindly? 



SUPERS ON HIVES SELDOM BOBBED. 



PUes of four or five stories with abundant ventilation at 

 each story are in' no danger from "robbers under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances; but if you ever have such piles, and are so unfor- 

 tunate as to get the robbers once started at them, you "better 

 watch out." Even if there should be a dearth for some time, 

 robbers are not likely toattaok a pUe; for they- have probably 

 got into the habit of thinking that such a pile is not to be med- 

 dled with; but just you do something to call particular atten- 

 tion to the pUe, such as letting a comb of honey stand by it 

 exposed, and there are so many exposed places to defend that 

 the robbers are likely to have things their own way. 



A BAD CASE OF ROBBING. 



One time George W. York was here when bees were not 

 busily at work in the fields, arid I opened up a pile of 'four 

 stories, for what purpose I do not now remember; "very likely 

 1 was trying to show off in some way. At any rate I showed 

 him a fine case of robbing, for the robbers pounced down upon 

 every exposed point, and before I had noticed what was going 

 on they were having a gay time. Of course I couldn't build a 

 haystack about the four stories, but I had to do something, for 

 although the colony was a powerful one it was utterly inade- 

 quate to the protection of four exposed stories, and without 

 any interference on my part its doom was sealed. I closed all 

 entrances except the lower one, and then applied the hay and 

 water to the lower story successfully. 



WHEN SUPERS ON HIVES MAY BE ROBBED. 



During the usual working season there is need of some 

 foolishness on the part of the beekeeper to start robbing at a 



