218 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. November, 



FEEDING SUGAR SYRUP. 



Its Evil Results Thought to Be Imaginary. 



Bv E. F. Atwater. 



FOR SOME TIME I have noted at a iirofit, or ever was done at a 

 with scant patience the ai-ticles profit, or viill be done. I happen to 

 and comments on sugar-feeding know something of the results of 

 in "The American Bee-Keeper." some experiments along this line. 

 I Imow that you desire to give a fair These tests were conducted in a state 

 hearing to both sideis of this question, where climatic conditions were favor- 

 so I shall i-ush in "where angels fear able, and by a well educated, .skillful 

 to tread" (?) and practical bee-keeper, whom I 



I seldom feed any sugar, in fact, well know. The results showed a 

 seldom feed at all, and prefer to feed loss, an amount of sugar out of all 

 honey, which is usually cheaper than proportion to the produ'ct of "honey," 

 sugar in a wholesale way. If foul was fed, and colonies required con-' 

 lirood were common here I -should stant additions of bees from other 

 feed sugar when necessai-y, in spite colonies to keep up their strength, 

 of tlie increased expense. Five Soon the bees refused to do any more 

 seasons in Idaho, with from 180 to than live "from hand to mouth" on 

 6oO colonies I have not fed over $20. the sugar syrup, and would not store 

 worth of sugar, so don't accuse me of it until at last half honey had to be 

 being "touched in a tender spot." added to it. I have no doubt that 



The editor who refused A. C. Mil- this ground has been gone over by 

 ler's "criticism of an article on feed- many, aiid not necessarily from 

 ing" because "it seemed- unwise to any wrong motive. Now let A. C M 

 open a discussion along such lines," bring forward the proofs that Mr. 

 did just right, in my opinion. Boardman and others have "more or 



"The suspicions of the pul^lic are less symip in their surplus honey '" 

 ah-eady aroused:" certainly, thanks in Sir. Miller seems to view with 

 the main to the infamous "Wiley lie," pity or scorn the indefinitene-ss of 

 and if the bee-keepers were to abstain the articles written by the variouis 

 from sugar-feeding and the use of bee-keepers whose contributions en- 

 comb foundation for a century public rich our journals, «o "unscientific" 

 confidence w-ould not be restored, so you know. Mr. Miller's articles on 

 long as fraud and adulteration are sugar feeding are nothing if not in- 

 practiced on other foods. These ar- definite; they contain no proofs, no 

 tides condemning sugar-feeding lack indication that any one has 'any 

 proof of the effects claimed. How like proofs. See how he misquotets 

 Mr. Miller this sounds: "When it Doolittle, by giving the following 

 comes to stimulative feeding, and feed- without specifying the conditions 

 ing for winter stores, there is no ques- under which this happens- Mr Doo- 

 tion m my mind that honey is the little says, that bees once started in 

 better food both from the point of tiie sections, the honey stored in the 

 utihty and from that of ethics." No combs below will be carried to the 

 doubt that settles it. Admitted in sections as fast as the queen needs 

 regard to stimulative feeding, but for the room for egg-laving, and further 

 Avintering the evidence is largely on that within fifteen' days after the 

 the other side, as A. I. Root, Capt. bees occupy the sections the brood 

 Hethenngton, E. D. Towsend, James chamber is packed with brood ex- 

 Heddou and othens. "Furthermore, cept for a little pollen and honey in 

 countenancing of the feeding practice the extreme upper comers of the 

 affords an excellent cover for the dis- frames, and the sections are filled 

 honest man to feed purposely for sale with honey." 



as honey." I don't believe a word If I am not mistaken, Doolittle 

 of It. I don't believe it can be done never gave that as a general rule, 



