FEEDING 



It is possible to make the stimulating syrup 

 with a smaller proportion of sugar, but this 

 is no advantage, as the surplus water has to 

 be thrown off by evaporation, and by using 

 equal parts of sugar and water, we save the 

 bees that much extra work. Moreover, ex- 

 periments have proved to me that they seem 

 to prefer the thicker syrup at all times. In 

 every case the syrup should be given them 

 while it is hot, as they take it up more quickly. 

 Under no conditions should the mixture be 

 boiled on a stove, as there is danger of scorch- 

 ing it, and this will work serious damage to the 

 bees in promoting dysentery and other intes- 

 tinal diseases, particularly where such syrup 

 is fed for winter stores. 



There is no class of men given to invention as 

 much as are beekeepers. In regard to feeders, 

 especially, the number that has appeared from 

 time to time is enormous, and it is the pur- 

 pose of this chapter to call attention only to a 

 few that have stood the test of time. 



A good feeder for stimulative feeding in 

 271 



