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CHAPTER XIV. 



DIRECTIONS FOR FEEDING BEES. 



FEW things in practical bee-keeping are more important 

 than the feeding of bees; yet none have been more 

 grossly mismanaged or neglected. Since the sulphur-pit 

 has been discarded, thousands of feeble colonies starve in 

 the Winter, or early Spring ; while often, when an unfa- 

 vorable Summer is followed by a severe Winter and late 

 Spring, many persons lose most of their stocks, and 

 abandon bee-keeping in disgust. 



In the Spring, the prudent bee-keeper wiU no more 

 neglect to feed his destitute colonies, than to provide for 

 his own table. At this season, being stimulated by the 

 returning warmth, and being largely engaged in breed- 

 ing, bees require a liberal supply of food, and many 

 populous stocks perish, which might have been saved with 

 but trifling trouble or expense.* 



" If e'er dark Autumn, with untimely storm, 

 The honey'd harvest of the year deform ; 

 Or the chill blast from Eurus' mildew wing, 

 Blight the fair promise of returning Spring ; 

 Full many a hive, but late alert and gay, 

 Droops in the lap of all-inspiring May." EVANS. 



* " If the Spring is not favorable to bees, they should be fed, because that Is the 

 season of their greatest expense in honey, for feeding their young. Having plenty 

 at that time, enables thetn to yield early and strong swarms/' WILDMAN. 



A bee-keeper, whose stocks are allowed to perish after the Spring has opened, is 

 on a level with a farmer whose cattle are allowed to starve in their stalls ; while 

 those who withhold from them the needed aid, in seasons when they cannot gather 

 a supply, resemble the merchant who burns up his ships, if they have made an 

 unfavorable voyage. 



Columella gives minute instructions for feeding needy stocks, and quotes approv- 



