The Honey Bee 1407 



When it is desired to feed for stimulative purposes, the syrup 

 should be made of one part sugar and one or two parts water, 

 which need not be heated. 



There are rnanj styles of feeders used for this purpose, among 

 which are the division board feeders used in the hive in place of 

 one or two frames. The "Alexander " feeder fitted in the bottom 

 board under the rear end of the hive, the " Stahlman " feeder 

 used under cover at top of hive, inverted fruit jars, tin cans, etc. 



Any waste or refuse honey which is known tO' be free from 

 disease germs may be fed when the bees can fly frequently. This 

 should be diluted by adding an equal amount of water. 



Some experienced apiarists succeed well in feeding in the open 

 air for stimulation or during shortage of honey. Some special 

 arrangement which the bees may visit in large numbers without 

 danger of drowning, should be provided for this purpose. They 

 should be fed a moderate quantity each day that they are able to 

 fly, until they can obtain a sufficiency from the fields. 



The indiscriminate purchase of honey for feeding is prohibi- 

 tive on account of the danger of introducing disease into the 

 apiary. 



Whatever method of feeding may be employed, it is highly 

 esisential that the robbing propensity of the bees be forestalled. 



COMB FOUNDATION 



Comb foundation is a modem invention of no inconsiderable 

 importance and has become a necessity in commercial beekeep- 

 ing. It is made from pure beeswax by melting and sheeting 

 same, then embossing the sheets to imitate the septum of the 

 natural honey comb. The size of the cell outline is also identical 

 with that of the natural worker comb as built by the bees. This 

 is the only size that is profitable for general use. The annual 

 output of this product by the various manufacturers amounts to 

 hundreds of tons. 



One pound of wax as produced by the bees, requires the con- 

 sumption from fifteen to twenty pounds of honey, besides 

 much time used in construction, hence it is obvious that by fur- 

 nishing them with a large proportion of this wax ready to work, 

 much time and honey is saved. 



