112 First Annual Report 



FEEDING BEES. 



Few thing;s in bee-keeping are more important and require a more thor- 

 ough knowledge than the feeding of bee?. In attempting to winter too small 

 colonies thousands often perish in winter and early spring. Colonies in the 

 common box hive containing few combs and but little honey, should be fed 

 in the latter part of Septenibor or in October a sufficient amount to carry 

 them safely through the winter. If feeding is neglected until -vinter it may 

 then be done by placing the hive in a cellar or moderately warm room. 



In the spring the prudent bee-keeper will no more neglect to feed his des- 

 titute colonies than to provide for his own table. There is one point certain 

 in bee-keeping, that if a colony is stimulated carefully in the spring, they and 

 their first swarm will have honey sufficient in the fall to winter them through 

 unless a very unfavorable season occurs. 



WATER NECESSARY. 



Water is indispensable to bees when building comb or raising brood. 

 Every prudent bee-keeper will see that his bees are supplied with water, by 

 placing shallow wooden troughs filled with straws or floats, that they may 

 drink without danger of drowning. A location near small bodies of water 

 will be sufficient for a supply, but locations near large bodies are injurious. 



ROBBING AMONG BEES. 



It is instinctive in the nature of bees for one colony to rob another as 

 soon as they can leave their hives in the spring, 'fhe stronger begins to as- 

 sail the weaker. If these marauders who are prowling about in search of 

 plunder attack a strong colony, they are usually glad to escape with their 

 lives from its resolute defenders. The bee-keeper who neglects to feed his 

 needy colonies, and to assist such as are weak or queenless, must expect to 

 sufTer heavy losses from robber bees. They are never inclined to rob when 

 there is plenty of honey in the field. They would obtain their living hon- 

 estly when they can, forcibly when they must. When an entrance has been 

 made into a poorly garrisoned hive, and the condition ascertained, the rob- 

 bers return to their homes and present themselves agam with additional 

 numbers. The weak colony, seeing their helpless condition, immediately 

 join the marauders and assist in carrying their own stores to the robbers' 

 hive, and themselves become a portion of its inmates. This is always the 

 case with those who survive after being overpowered. 



A very good method to determine when a swarm is being robbed7~is to 

 catch a bee that is coming out. If he looks plumper than those entering, if 

 you pull the head and thorax from the body, the honey sack will appear 

 either full or empty; if full, it is proof that the hive is being robbed, and 

 means should at once be instituted to prevent it. A few small pieces of 

 camphor gum thrown into the entrance, will often prevent the robbers from 

 trying to get in, but when not eflfectual, close the opening by laying a little 



