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avoid all rubbing, however severe the smarting or itch- 
ing may be, and bathe the part in cold water. Harts- 
horn, ( aqua ammonia), if quickly applied, will often 
prevent swelling ; when the wound is bathed with it, 
the volatile properties of the ammonia will reduce the 
poison, which will escape with it. 
While some persons suffer more from the stings of 
bees than others, still others, and especially those who 
have been stung a number of times, feel little or no 
pain. 
If any operation is to be performed on a hive, requi- 
ring several minutes of time, the hive should be carried 
from its stand a rod or more while the bees are flying, 
as the returning bees, not being subdued, may feel in- 
clined to resist your operations. If carried in the 
shade, or away from the principal line of flight, other 
bees will be less liable to interfere. 
BEE 'ROBBERY. 
Bees seldom rob when there is plenty of forage, or 
when under the management of an able bee-keeper who 
guards against it. This thieving habit is generally 
caused by the exposure of honey or other sweets, so 
that bees can get a taste of it ; and if they become ac- 
customed to obtaining their honey without searching 
the field, they will try to enter every colony in the 
apiary — especially in early spring, or in the fall, after 
