bee-keeper's manual. 323 



fowls had no occasion to visit the field. Now, the bees 

 in an apiary, that commence robbing from a neighbor- 

 ing hive, do so from necessity, not from an innate prin- 

 ciple of disregard of right and justice ; and let the apia- 

 rian but place a trough of syrup or of honey before them, 

 for a few days, and all pillaging will come to an end. 

 Some bee-keepers think it very unreasonable, that they 

 should be required to feed their bees, but expect great 

 profits from them, without any trouble or expense what- 

 ever. The poor bee is not at fault when she finds her 

 combs empty, and herself in a starving condition. She 

 labors all that she can ; but she cannot ward off" the 

 storm and the cold north winds that often confine her, 

 when she would gladly, be in the fields. But six weeks , 

 only, out of fifty-two, does this insect have to replenish 

 her hive ; the rest of the summer affording but enough 

 for a daily supply ; therefore, he who would let his bees 

 perish for the want of food, when a cold and inclement 

 season has deprived them of support, ought to be put on 

 a short allowance himself 



When bees commence robbing their neighbors, the 

 hive attacked should be closed up immediately, on the 

 first evening after the discovery, and remain so a few 

 days. When it is opened, the entrance should be so 

 diminished, that but a single bee can enter at once, and 

 left in this manner for a while. This course will gene- 

 rally prove effectual. Changing the entrance from front 

 to rear, will sometimes cause the marauders to decamp, 

 and it may be necessary, in some instances, to remove 

 the hives robbed, to a new and distant situation; but 



