232 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW, 



length, and preserve the balancing power 

 requisite in flight. 



With September comes the removal of all 

 sections. I usually employ a few strong 

 colonies to complete all unfinished ones as 

 the supers are emptied. The best will often 

 contain a few, possibly one or two at the 

 corners, particularly so if the weather has 

 been cool. Working on this plan I had no 

 unfinished ones from white clover. How- 

 ever, the chances are less favorable towards 

 the close of the season. 



The passing of the honey season confronts 

 us with preparations for winter. Readers of 

 the Review are aware that I am an advocate 

 for heavy stores, and believe such prepara- 

 tion in autumn is a requisite to success the 

 following season. There are those who con- 

 tend that an excess of winter stores is objec- 

 tionable and liable to contaminate the comb 

 honey when not consumed for breeding pur- 

 poses. Inasmuch as colonies d^fl'er in the 

 amount consumed, no rule as to a limited 

 amount can be given. I therefore prefer to 

 occupy the sure ground of an abundance. 

 Furthermore, breeding is pushed forward 

 more rapidly in the spring with resources 

 at hand. Even if a few sections contain a 

 little old or dark honey, it is clear gain, tak- 

 ing into consideration the increased pro- 

 duction which accrues from strong colonies. 

 I will state that sugar syrup used in feeding 

 is generally consumed first, being stored in 

 the central combs, so that little or none re- 

 mains until the general honey flow, hence, 

 will find no place in the surplus depart- 

 ments. 



Believing as I do that an abundance should 

 be provided for all colonies, the matter of 

 feeding should receive careful consideration. 

 Successful wintering depends largely upon 

 location of the stores; an abundance in the 

 outside combs will not compensate for any 

 deficiency in the central ones where the most 

 is required. Such an expedient as Hill's 

 device as a make-shift will answer in the 

 south or for cellar wintering, but for oat- 

 door wintering it serves no purpose what- 

 ever, aside from affording space which is 

 usually soiled with excrement. 



In consideration of the foregoing facts I 

 invariably defer feeding until all the brood 

 has matured, thus giving place for storage 

 accessible to the cluster. We should bear in 

 mind that the central combs which usually 

 contain the least honey, are occupied l)y the 

 greatest number of bees. 



The delay of feeding until breeding is 

 over usually brings the work into October 

 for Michigan latitude; which with thick 

 syrup necessitates a better feeder than 

 either the Miller or Hedcibn. Feeders upon 

 that principle compel a distance of travel 

 favorable to warm weather only, and at a 

 season when least required. Although not a 

 manufacturer of feeders, I have constructed 

 and used one for several years which sup- 

 plies the food directly above the cluster. It 

 is atmospheric and holds about twelve 

 pounds. 



I am also an advocate for thick syrup. 

 The bee instinctively prepares her stores by 

 evaporating all the moisture or watery por- 

 tion previous to sealing the cells. Possibly 

 a trace may be left, as honey even after be- 

 ing sealed improves with age unless exposed 

 to dampness. Let us bear in mind that 

 honey primarily is the food of bees and that 

 water is not. We shall then be better able 

 to understand the cause of losses attendant 

 upon out-door wintering. We appropriate 

 the early and well cured stores of our bees, 

 leaving the late and partly cured for them, 

 and wonder why so much fatality occurs in 

 wintering. Pure honey, well cured, is al- 

 most entirely appropriated by the system of 

 the bee; water cannot be appropriated in 

 any quantity, consequently must be voided, 

 necessitating many unseasonable cleansing 

 flights. 



In making syrup I prefer to use about 

 twelve or fourteen pounds of confectioners' 

 A sugar to a quart of water, bringing it to a 

 boiling point for two or three minutes at 

 which time I add less than a half teaspoon- 

 f ul of tartaric acid dissolved in a little water 

 to prevent granulation. V'inegar will not 

 answer. I know many who have followed 

 the old beaten path will contend that such 

 syrup is too thick and in the next breath 

 recommend candy for wintering. While I 

 have no use for candy, I do recommend 

 the feeding of syrup just as thick as can 

 possibly be used. It tends to concentrate 

 the food, also the storage of it, by reason of 

 which the colony remains more impact, con- 

 serving its vitality. Colonies prepared as 

 before stated for out-door wintering in 

 properly constructed hives will furnish 

 abundant evidence of its success, not only 

 the following spring but throughout the 

 season. With abundant stores, of con- 

 centrated food, accessible to the cluster, I 

 would just as quickly insure a colony in 



