272 THE bke-kkepkr's guide; 



feed will be carried away before the next day, and the danger 

 to weak colonies from robbing is avoided. 



In feeding- during the cold days of April, all should be 

 close above the bees to economize heat. In all feeding, care is 

 requisite that we may not spill the feed about the apiary, as 

 this may, and very generally will, induce robbing. 



If, through neglect, the bees are found to be destitute of 

 stores in mid-winter, it is not best to feed liquid food, but solid 

 food, like the Viallon candy or the Good mixture of honey and 

 sugar, which will be described under the head of shipping 

 queens. Cakes of either of these should be placed on the 

 frames above the cluster of bees. Mr. Root has had excellent 

 success in feeding cakes of hard candy made as follows: 

 Granulated sugar is ' put in a pan and a very little water 

 added. This is heated by placing on a stove, but never in 

 direct contact with the fire. In the latter case it may be 

 burned, as shown by the taste, odor, or from the fact that it 

 kills the bees. If the pan is placed on the stove, the contents 

 will never be burned. It must be boiled until if dropped on a 

 saucer in cold water, or if the finger is wet in cold water, then 

 dipped in the hot sugar, and again in water, the hard sugar is 

 brittle. It must be boiled until the hardened product is brittle, 

 or else it will be too soft and will drip. It can now be stirred 

 until it begins to thicken and then molded in dishes, or in the 

 regular comb frames. In this last case we lay the frame close 

 on a board covered with thin paper, and turn the thickening 

 sugar into it. By adding one-fourth rye-meal we have a good 

 substitute for pollen, which may be used in case of a scarcity 

 of the latter. Of course, frames of this hard candy may be 

 hung right in the hive. In a cellar or on warm days outside 

 frames of honey may be given to the bees. 



