THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



105 



areas of colonies during- early spring-, the 

 first steps of importance is the bringing 

 forward of highly favored conditions 

 under which, naturally, bees are inclined 

 to produce the most brood. 



All strains of bees, blacks and Italians 

 in particular, are governed mainly in their 

 production of brood by the presence, or 

 absence, of a nectar-supply. In the ab- 

 sence of such, the principle requisite to 

 promoting brood production, is the pro- 

 vision of a regular source of artificial 

 food supply. This, then, is the principle 

 upon which hangs the practice of feeding 

 sugar syrup for stimulation. While it in- 

 volves some degree of energy and ex- 

 pense, it is one that pays financially, even 

 should colonies have an abundance of 

 sealed stores. Certainly it is the only 

 means whereby weak colonies can, with- 

 out opening hives or manipulating combs, 

 be brought to equal the strongest which 

 have been left to their own devices. 



In localities having no early flow, col- 

 onies that may have come through win- 

 ter in ideal condition, can as profitably be 

 left to their own care. We can, however, 

 scarcely dispense with spring feeding on 

 account of the weaklings, of which there 

 are generally from 15 to 20 per cent. 



The amount of syrup a colony will re- 

 quire daily must depend to no small ex- 

 tent upon circumstances. Those strong 

 numerically and headed by prolific moth- 



ers capable of supplying an unlimited 

 number of eggs, may consume from half 

 to one pint. Others, owing to a scarcity 

 of numbers, or having queens inadequate- 

 ly prolific, will require a less amount. 



As at no other time, spring feeding 

 must be conducted in such a way that no 

 bees will be accidentally drowned in the. 

 proceedings. Should that occur, their' 

 force will fast diminish by the very thing; 

 which is intended to populate the hive. 

 In years when at the end of winter col- 

 onies are in excellent condition, stimula- 

 tion is rarely necessary or advisable. 

 Therefore, when it becomes necessary, 

 conditions of warmth and economy of bee 

 life are absolutely indispensable to suc- 

 cess. 



Without question, judicious and intelli- 

 gent feeding for the purpose of assisting 

 invalid colonies, is advantageous, espec- 

 ially at a time when bees have access 

 only to old, thick honey. To dilute such 

 honey for the preparation of larval food, 

 they will otherwise be forced to venture 

 out in precarious and ruinous weather in 

 search of a watering place. But whether 

 we wish to feed for stimulation or merely 

 to prevent some of the colonies starving, 

 the fact remains that spring feeding is 

 often unavoidable with all systems and in 

 the best managed apiaries. 



Ft. Smith, Ark., Dec. 17, 1909. 



A Machine for Imbedding Splints in Foundation 

 to Prevent it from Sagging. 



A. T. ATWATER. 



XN many apiaries, an examination of 

 the combs reveals at once one 

 cause which must inevitably pre- 

 vent the development of the greatest 

 strength per colony, and so reduces ma- 

 terially the average yield. 



I refer to the sagged combs, and the 



consequent neglect to fill the imperfect 

 cells with brood. 



As wiring alone is usually insufficient 

 and unsatisfactory in producing perfect 

 combs, some resort to the use of splints. 



After extensive tests, on h''ndreds, and 

 even thousands, of frames of foundation, 



