40 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



difference, and iu some places we are 

 sorry to say treated with disdain. Yet, 

 let every adept in the science teach the 

 right, tlie true, the practiful method of 

 successful bee-keeping, and ignorance, 

 and superstition will be driven from the 

 laud. And then in connection with the 

 rearing of cows, sheep, pigs and other 

 agricultural pursuits, for which this coun- 

 try is so beautifully adapted, we may 

 expect the good promise given to our fore- 

 fathers of old, truly verified: "Thou 

 shall inherit a land flowing with milk and 

 honey." 



The question set for discussion, viz. : 

 Mode, objects and results of feeding, and 

 queen rearing was then taken up. 



Mr. P. D. McLean said there were vari- 

 ous methods of feeding, and two kinds of 

 food, viz. : liquid and pollen food. Bees 

 when rearing young required a great deal 

 of pollen and hone3\ Some fed them 

 sweet liquids by suspending it in the hive, 

 or placing it out in the open air. The 

 best plan, he thought, was to feed in the 

 hive, regarded unbolted rye meal the best 

 food for pollen. The object of feeding is 

 to stimulate the queens, and make strong 

 colonies, thereby- securing plenty of combs 

 and honey. His mode of feeding was by 

 inverting a vessel on a plate, and setting 

 it on top of the frames, allowing it to run 

 out in just sufficient quantity for the bees 

 to get around, and take it up. The result 

 of feeding, he found to be very beneficial. 

 When bees were gathering honey the 

 queen would be found to be laying. It 

 should be kepi up when commenced, for 

 if the supply was cut off the brood would 

 die. Had noticed in the last few days 

 that his bees entered his kitchen for meal. 

 Advised that bees be fed now, thought 

 about the first of February, the best time 

 to feed. On examining his hives found 

 that his queens were laying now. 



J. J. Jones.— Will Mr. McLean please 

 state why he considers rye meal the best 

 food for pollen ? 



S D. McLean. — Because they partake 

 of it more readily, and it nearer resem- 

 bles pollen. 



J. J. Jones. — My bees have been feed- 

 ing on corn meal, and it has kept them 

 out of mischief; did not know why rye 

 meal was the best; have never heard or 

 read of any reason being given. He 

 thought it probable that it was recom- 

 mended because in some sections it was 

 more convenient and cheaper. 



Dr. Staples. — I think Mr. McLean is 

 correct. If llie matter of feeding be 

 tested, thought it would be found that 

 those that were fed would be found much 

 more active during the honey season. 

 There were many things in nature we 

 could not explain. He liad observed his 

 bees working in sawdust. The reason 

 they preferred rye meal, he supposed, was 

 because they knew what was best for them. 



S. D. McLean. — Put rye and corn meal 

 both out, side by side and they would take, 

 the rye, and leave the corn meal. 



C. C Vaughn. — Had put them both out 

 together. Thought they took most readily 

 of the one they first lit upon. 



Mr. Caskey. — Thought if they took 

 anything more readily or better than corn 

 meal, it would be an injury. Supposed 

 they took the rye in preference, because it 

 was much richer. He proportioned his 

 liquid food of ene part water to three of 

 sugar. This he poured into an empty 

 rack of comb. Regarded comb as the 

 best feeder. One rack of comb, filled, 

 was suflScient to feed a large colony of 

 bees. By this mode of feeding there was 

 no danger of having bees drowned. His 

 experience was that those which had been 

 fed are more active, and go earlier and 

 more readily to work. 



Mr. Staples asked Mr. Caskey why he 

 fed his bees at all. 



Mr. Caskey. — That they may nourish 

 their brood. TJie feeding of syrup stimu- 

 lates tlie queen to laying, and unless fed, 

 the brood would die. Also fed at other 

 times to keep his bees from starving. He 

 objected to feeding strong colonies, for 

 the purpose of stimulating them, until 

 February. 



Mr. Jones thought Mr. Caskey's mode 

 of feeding objectionable, as it would in- 

 duce robbery. His mode was to con- 

 struct a feeder of canvass in a frame, of 

 his hive, into which he poured his syrup. 



Mr. McLean. — If bees had plenty of 

 uncapped honey he did not think it worth 

 while to feed them. It would be found 

 that the queens of weak colonies would be 

 the last to commence laying. 



Mr. Jones. — It matters not if the hives 

 are full of honey, if the crop is suddenly 

 cut short, the queen will stop laying. 



Mr. McLean. — Queens are laying now, 

 and there is nothing for them to gather at 

 this time. 



Mr. Caskey. — Weak colonies will not 

 have as many eggs as strong ones, because 

 they havn't the bees to take care of the 

 brood. 



Mr. Jones. — I have never made a practi- 

 cal test of the matter, but I think if two 

 hives were experimented with, by extract- 

 ing all the honey from (;ne, and leaving 

 the other as it is, and the honey gradually 

 fed back to the one from which it was ex- 

 tracted, that they would prove during the 

 honey-harvest to be the best workers. 

 His bees were gathering honey now — 

 thought it probable that it was by rob- 

 bery. 



Dr. Boyd thought that feeding required 

 a great deal of judgment. Some queens 

 were good layers, being better than others, 

 and always had in their hives an abund- 

 ance of honey. The best laying queens he 

 regarded as dangerous, and it was neces- 

 sary that they be closely watched. Did not 



