240 Beekeeping 



Closing the hive. 



In closing a hive, after the frames are replaced and spaced 

 properly, the cover should be put on in such a way as to 

 crush no bees. If necessary the bees may be driven down 

 by the use of smoke, but if bees are on the top edges of the 

 hive, the cover may be slid on from the end or side so that 

 none will be crushed. 



OCCASIONAL MANIPULATIONS 



In the discussions which follow, manipulations will be 

 described which may be useful at almost any time or at 

 different times in the season but which are not part of the 

 regular work of most apiaries. The plan followed in this 

 book is to give the various manipulations in the order in 

 which they are used 'during the season. The manipulations 

 discussed under this heading are most frequently useful in 

 the spring. 



Feeding. 



To stimulate brood-rearing or to provide stores in the 

 spring, in preparing colonies for winter and at other times 

 during a shortage of stores, it may be necessary to feed the 

 bees. Obviously, it is desirable to allow the bees to keep 

 sufficient honey and if this can be done it is always prefer- 

 able to feeding. No better stimulation to heavy breeding 

 in the spring can be found than adequate protection and an 

 abundance of stores, but a large amount of food is needed 

 at this season and the beekeeper should feed if he finds that 

 he has failed to leave enough. In small hives, the giving of 

 additional stores in the spring is usually desirable, either 

 in the form of combs of honey or as a syrup. 



The feeding of sugar syrup to produce comb-honey has 

 of course been tried and some beekeepers have believed that 

 the product is honey. This is not the case and the fraud 

 may readily be detected. Fortunately, even at the lowest 

 prices of granulated sugar, the sections actually cost the 



