188 MANAGEMENT IN SPRING. 



deficiency.* No branch of bee-management requires 

 more attention tban the feeding operation, and very 

 many hives, we fear, are irretrievably injured by the in- 

 judicious manner in which supplies of food are admin- 

 istered. Giving them in a cold state, or in a state of 

 fermentation, or at improper periods, costs every year 

 the lives of thousands of bees. No food should be 

 given in spring till the bees shew by their coming 

 abroad, that it may be offered them with perfect safety. 

 A simple mode of feeding is by means of a small 

 drawer, having a float pierced with holes, inserted in 

 the thickness of the floor-board, at the back of the 

 hive. Liquid honey, or syrup of sugar, a little warm, 

 may be poured into this drawer in the evening, after 

 the bees have retired in-doors from the labours of 

 the day. It is taken up immediately, and the smell 

 is completely gone before the morning. 



It is of very material importance in feeding, to 

 guard against the admission of stranger bees to the 

 feeding vessel. This may be effected by shutting up 

 the hive completely after the feeding-drawer, above 

 described, has been inserted, allowing only the admis- 

 sion of air. One circumstance, however, may render 

 this precaution abortive ; some of the liquid may be, 

 and very often is, accidentally spilt in pushing the 

 trough inwards, the consequence of which is, that the 

 smell of the syrup, when the hive is opened, will attract 



* The food given to bees in autumn may be either honey 

 or sugar ; but in spring it should always be honey, as sugar 

 does not form so good an ingredient of the jelly which nour- 

 ishes the young brood. 



