23 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



in regard to their stock of provisions, their health, and 

 whether. they are free from troublesome insects. Of these 

 particulars, something shall now be said. 



Were we merely to consult our feelings, we should ad- 

 vise to feed Bees, when their stock is exhausted. If this 

 be near the close of Winter, interest alone will dictate the 

 measure; but, if they are found destitute at an earlier pe- 

 riod, perhaps their desiiny is only to be averted from mo- 

 tives of compassion. And is the industrious Insect, that 

 toils for us incessantly during Summer, unworthy of pity 

 in the hour of distress? It should be remembered, that, 

 when even a little Bee perishes with famine, it * feels a 

 pang as great, as when a Giant dies.' 



Bur another Writer, quoted by Mr. Deane, says that 

 Swarms, < whijch have not a good stock of honey to serve 

 them ; trough Winter, are not fit to keep.' 



Honey is the most natural food for Bees. It is to be 

 conveyed into the hives by little troughs for the purposei 

 and the food is to be given daily, until the Bees can provide 

 for themselves. Let some good sweet-wort be mixed with 

 the honey, and it will then go much farther. Sugar, or mo- 

 lasses, may also be used in place of honey. A Writer, 

 quoted by Mr. Deane, says, 



' Some prescribe toasts of bread, soped in strong ale, and 

 put into the hive; whereof they will not leave one crumb 

 remaining.' 



This is certainly much the cheapest food. 

 The quantity of provisions, the Bees may have in store, 

 is to be known by the weight of the hive. The weight of 

 the Swarm* and of the hive or box containing them, should 

 always be known, and marked ; and then, after a reasonable 

 deduction for the weight of the comb, the remainder of the 

 whole weight must be honey and bee-bread. The hive 

 composed of leaves, as before described, affords, however, 

 a readier way for ascertaining the stock of provisions, by 

 opening the leaves and examining every part ; and this we 

 think one of its principal advantages. 



Perhaps the leaf-hive, with a hole and shutter in the top, 

 for the purpose of filling the small hives, as first mention- 

 ed, would be found an improvement combining the advan- 

 tages of each. 



In regard to the diseases of Bees, it may be firstly ob- 

 served, that epidemics have been known to prevail among 

 them, and sweep them off almost entirely ; that a case of 

 this kind happened, about forty years since, in Syria, in the 

 Archipelago, as is related by the Abbe Delia Rocca. Such 

 instances are very rare, however. The most common dis- 

 ease among them is a kind of diahoea, which is very inju- 

 rious; the commencement of which may be observed by 



