43 



of a nail. Fill the can with the syrup, put in the top, set the can upside down on the 

 top of the frames. As many cans as the frames will hold can be used at once. The 

 bees will carry the syrup as fast as it leaks out. Of course, an empty hive must be on 

 top of the hive to hold in the heat and to prevent bees from other hives getting at the 

 supply. A Mason jar will do just as M^ell. An excellent top-feeder on the market is 

 known as the Miller. With it 25 pounds of syrup can be fed at one time. 



For spring feeding the writer recommends the Doolittle division -board feeder, 

 which is placed in the hive alongside the brood-nest like an ordinary frame. The 



Fig. 



Division-board Feeder. 



illustration will show its construction. The sides are made of ^-incli wood, 5 x 17§ 

 inches, rough on the inside to give foothold to the bees. The bottom and end bars are 

 of |-inch wood, 1 J inches wide. The end bars are 5 inches in length ; the bottom bar 

 is 16^ inches. Each joint is coated with thick paint before nailing. For the lugs cut 

 two pieces of |-inch wood, 1^x3^ inches. From one end of each piece cut a check 

 f X 1 inch. This feeder will drown bees unless a slat is put inside of it to float on the 

 top of the syrup. To fill the feeder, turn back the quilt sufficiently far, pour in the 

 syrup, then replace the quilt. 



Feeding a Pollen Substitute. 



In some parts of the dry belt there is a lack of pollen in the early spring months, so 

 that in the ordinary course brood- raising is seriously hindered. The bee-keeper in such 

 a region can provide a substitute in the form of finely ground, dry, unbolted rye meal, 

 or even ordinary flour, which is set out in shallow troughs or boxes. The layer must 

 be quite thin, otherwise the bees will drown in it. To attract the bees, smear a little 

 honey on the edge of the tray. The boxes must be placed in a warm spot, sheltered 

 from the wind. Continue feeding until the bees cease to use it, which will be when the 

 blossoms provide the real article. 



Various methods have been devised for feeding artificial pollen inside the hive, but 

 in practice they are found to be injurious to the welfare of the colony. 



