ROBBERIES. 
143 
families, sometimes all, have participated in the plunder. 
One family, if it be large, is just as likely, and more 
so, to find a weak one among the ten, and commence 
plundering, as the other way. 
IMPROPER REMEDIES. 
Notwithstanding it is common to hear remarks like 
this, “ I had a first-rate hive of bees,” (when the fact 
was he had not looked particularly at his bees for a 
month, to know whether it was so or not, and if he 
had, very likely would not know,) “ and Mr. A.’s bees 
began to rob them. I tried every thing to stop it ; I 
moved them around in several places to prevent their 
finding the hive. It did no good ; the first I knew 
they were all gone— bees, honey, and all ! The bees 
all joined the robbers.” Now the fact is, that not one 
good stock of bees in fifty, will ever be robbed, if let 
alone; that is, if the entrance is properly protected. 
This moving the hive was enough to ruin any stock ; 
bees were lost at every change, until nothing was left 
but honey to tempt the robbers ; whereas, if left on 
its stand, it might have escaped. 
A great many remedies have been given me gratis, 
which, had one-half been followed, would have ruined 
them, llic fact is, with many people, the remedies 
are often the cause of the disease. The most fatal is, 
to move them a few rods ; another, to close the hive 
entirely, (very liable to smother them) ; or, break out 
some comb and set the honey to running. There are 
some charms that affect them but little any way. 
Probably there are but few bee-keepers able to tell at 
