CHAPTER VIII 

 FEEDING 



Probably one-third of the total annual loss of bees is the 

 direct result of carelessness on the part of the owners in failing 

 to provide stores at the proper time. In the spring such largo 

 quantities of honey are consumed in early brood rearing that a 

 few days of unfavorable weather will bring a colony with a 

 small reserve supply to the verge of starvation. Thousands of 

 colonies are lost from this cause alone. Then it is nearly always 

 the case that some colonies will go into winter quarters with an 

 insufficient food supply, unless fed, and will die for lack of stores 

 before spring. 



When making increase or rearing queens a check in the honey 

 flow will make it necessary to continue to feed the colonies in 

 order to maintain normal conditions and get best results. 



From the above statement it will be seen that feeding at the 

 proper time is a matter of the greatest importance. Perhaps 

 more needless loss is caused by a lack of appreciation of this fact 

 on the part of the average bee-keeper than any other. 



Good Honey the Best Feed. — As mentioned incidentally 

 elsewhere, the author regards good combs of sealed honey as the 

 best feed for all times excepting when it is desired to feed slowly 

 to stimulate brood rearing. The far-sighted bee-keeper will 

 retain a supply of extracting combs filled with sealed honey for 

 this purpose. They are always ready and can be placed where 

 needed with but a moment's time. 



There are localities where the bees gather honey-dew and 

 honey of low grade that gives unsatisfactory results in wintering, 

 where it is sometimes considered advisable to extract the honey 

 and feed sugar syrup. Such places, fortunately, are not many. 

 The storing of syrup is quite a tax on the bees and cannot but 

 result in a decrease in the number present by wearing them out 

 prematurely. 



9 129 



