74 PROFITABLE BEE-KEEPING 
place on a large scale and many bees are killed. 
The strong stocks rob out the weak ones, and 
when these are finished off fight fiercely among 
themselves in their endeavours to rob each other. 
As a rule one strong stock cannot rob out another 
which is equally strong, or even moderately strong, 
if the weaker one has a little assistance from the 
apiarist. 
The great thing is to check robbing at the very, 
commencement, to nip it in the bud before the 
business has time to get fairly under way. If it 
becomes a serious case it is very difficult to put 
it down, and it certainly means the removal of 
nuclei and weak colonies to another apiary for 
the time being. 
Robbing is nearly always caused by careless- 
ness on the part of the apiarist himself. He 
throws bits of comb about on the grass, keeps 
the hives open too long, or leaves supers of honey, 
thoughtlessly exposed. Honey or syrup is spilled 
about the apiary and the deed is done. The 
trouble commences at the close of the honey flow, 
and if it is fairly started it will often go on in- 
termittently until the frosts put an end to the 
predatory warfare. 
It should never really get a start, and certainly 
ought never to get out of hand if due care is 
exercised. Honey must be removed from the 
hives in the evening, and examinations of colonies 
made at that time also whenever possible. The 
bees will then have ceased flying. No sweets of 
