314 UNITING STOCKS. 



in making the attempt, let them, by all means, either do it 

 at break of day, before the bees of other hives will be in- 

 duced to commence robbing ; or better still, let them do it, 

 not only early in the morning, but let them carry the hive 

 on which they intend to operate, to a very considerable dis- 

 tance from the vicinity of the other hives, and entirely out 

 of sight of the Apiary. I much prefer this last plan, as I 

 then run no risk of attracting other bees to steal the honey, 

 and acquire mischievous habits. 



The bee-keeper is very often reminded, by the actions of 

 his bees, of some of the worst traits in poor human nature. 

 When a man begins to sink under misfortunes, how many 

 are ready, not simply to abandon him, but to pounce upon 

 him like greedy harpies, dragging, if they can, the very 

 bed from under his wife and helpless children, and appro- 

 priating all, -which by any kind of maneuvering, they can 

 possibly transfer to their already overgrown coffers ! Wiih 

 much the same spirit, more pardonable to be sure in an in- 

 sect, the bees from other hives, will gather around the one 

 which is being broken up, and while the disconsolate owners 

 are lamenting over their ruined prospects, will, with all im- 

 aginable rapacity and glee, bear off every drop which they 

 can possibly seize. 



CHAPTER XV. 



Uniting Stocks — Wiiilering Bees. 



Frequent allusions have been made, to the importance, for 

 various reasons, of breaking up stocks, and uniting them to 

 other families in the Apiary. Colonies which, late in the Fall, 



