Fisher Station, Mich., March 14, 1881.
=Bees Robbing.=—Here in Texas we have had a severe winter, but not
much snow. The thermometer went down to 20° above zero. Last season
was a poor one for honey; we had a cold spell in Nov.; then had warm
weather for 2 weeks, and my hybrid bees began to rob. The pure Italians
behaved well, neither robbed nor let the others rob them. I used water
and kerosene oil, but it was of no use; at last I hit upon a remedy. My
hives have the bottom boards projecting in front. I ripped out one-inch
square pieces 5 inches long, cut coarse wire cloth 2x6, bent it
lengthwise in the middle, tacked on 2 sides of each block, leaving wire
about 5 inches to give them air; I drove a nail through each end and
nailed it in front of each hive. Every 10 or 15 days when the weather
was fine, an hour before night, I let them out to have a fly. We have
had fine weather for the last 2 weeks. I let the bees out on Jan 30;
they have been busy carrying in pollen from elm since Jan. 31, and have
forgotten their stealing propensities. I opened some hives this evening
and found plenty of sealed brood, and will have drones flying by Feb.
24.