142 HOW TO KEEP BEES 



FEEDING RYE FLOUR 



This is given as a substitute for pollen, and is 

 often of great use in the spring when the flowers are 

 late in blossoming, or when severe rains wash the 

 pollen from the fruit bloom. Pollen or its equivalent 

 is absolutely necessary for rearing the brood. The 

 unbolted rye flour, or even oatmeal, or whole-wheat 

 flour may be used by the bees as a substitute with 

 perfect success. The meal may be mixed with the 

 candy if it is desirable; but the usual way is to place 

 it in a trough or box that is shallow, press it down hard 

 so that it will be not more than an inch or two thick, 

 to prevent the bees from getting suffocated while 

 working in it. We must remember that the bee has 

 two rows of holes along each side of the body through 

 which it breathes, and thus could be suffocated 

 as easily in soft flour as in water. The box contain- 

 ing the meal is usually placed a few rods distant 

 from the apiary, and often some old combs with 

 honey in them are placed on top so as to attract the 

 bees to the box, and let them know that it contains 

 food for them. Most bee-keepers say that the box 

 needs to be placed in the sun or the bees ignore it. 



FEEDING FOR HONEY 



Some bee-keepers practise feeding all the colonies 

 early in the season so that the brood has plenty of 

 sugar-syrup stored near it when the honey season 

 opens; and since the brood-comb is full the bees 

 begin at once to store in the supers. Mr. Boardman 



