CHAPTER XII 

 FEEDING BEES 



WHEN TO FEED 



AT least twice during the season bees are likely to 

 need more food than they can get in the fields, if 

 the bee-keeper is to do a profitable business. Once 

 early in the spring when for some reason the nectar 

 supply fails, and it is desirable to stimulate the rear- 

 ing of brood; again, late in the season when the colony 

 has not enough honey for winter use. When the 

 cupidity of the bee-keeper leads him to extract 

 too much honey, then must he forsooth open his 

 pocketbook and buy expensive sugar to feed back 

 to those whom he has robbed. However, bees 

 should be watched closely; they may need feeding at 

 any time, for it is hard to predict when the honey 

 or pollen harvest may fail in a given locality. 



When food is given the bees in the spring, it is 

 largely for the sake of stimulating them to extra 

 activity; and thus develop large, strong colonies 

 ready for work as soon as the harvest occurs. The 

 brood-chambers should be closely watched in the 

 early spring and if there is not sufficient food for the 

 brood present, it should be provided. In the fall 

 the hive should be examined by the middle of Sep- 

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