340 ROBBING. 



they aid ihem in carrying off their own stores, and are im- 

 mediately incorporated into the triumphant nation ! The poor 

 mother, however, is left behind in her deserted home, some 

 few of her children faithful to the last, remaining with her, 

 to perish by her side, amid the sad ruins of their once happy 

 home ! 



If the bee-keeper does not wish to have his bees so de- 

 moralized, that their value will be seriously diminished, he 

 •will be exceedingly careful to do all that he possibly can, to 

 prevent them from robbing each other. He will see that all 

 queenless colonies are seasonably broken up in the Spring, 

 and all weak ones strengthened, and confined to a space 

 which they can warm and defend. If once his bees get a 

 taste of forbidden sweets, they will seldom stop until they 

 have tested the strength of every hive, and destroyed all 

 that they possibly can. Even if the colonies are able to 

 defend themselves, many bees will be lost in these encoun- 

 ters, and a large waste of time will invariably follow ; for 

 bees whether engaged in attempting to rob, or in battling 

 against the robbery of others, are, to a very great extent, 

 cut off both from the disposition and ability to engage in 

 useful labors. They are like nations impoverished by mutual 

 assaults ; or on whom the mere apprehension of war, 

 exerts a most blighting influence over every branch of peace- 

 ful industry. 



I place great reliance on the movable blocks which guard 

 the entrance to my hive, to assist colonies in defending 

 themselves against robbing bees, as well as the prowling 

 bee-moth. These blocks are triangular in shape, and enable 

 the Apiarian to enlarge or contract, at pleasure, the entrance 

 to the hive. In the Spring, the entrance is kept open only 

 about two inches, and if the colony is feeble, not more than 

 half an inch. If robbers are about, the small colonies have 



