■*» PRACTICAI, BEE-KEEPING. 



to the bees of feeding with crystaUizable sugar, whioh cane sngar is. 

 The vinegar converts the cane (grocer's sugar), into glucose or sugar 

 lesembling that of honey, which thickens rather than crystallizes, as 



its water dries out of 

 it. We recommend the 

 syrup to be so kept that 

 the entrance of tlie bees 

 win be efPectually pre- 

 vented, or terrible de- 

 struction may result. 

 Some such vessel as our 

 prize syrup can (ITig. 33), 

 in which the spout- is 

 covered with perforated 

 zinc, while the shovel, of 

 which presently we shall 

 Bee the use, drops into 

 a perforated well, will 

 I prevent all danger. Over 



the feed hole of the hive 

 we fix either our prize 

 vulcanite feeding stage 

 (see infra), or a piece 

 of fine (No. 6) perforated 

 zinc. A wide mouthed 

 iottle (such as used for pickles) is now filled ; the shovel is placed over 

 its mouth, and the whole inverted (Fig. 34), when not a drop of the 



syrup escapes. Placing the 

 shovel over the feeding stage, 

 the bottle is held by one hand, 

 and the shovel quickly slid 

 away from under it by the 

 other, when the syrup is 

 taken by the bees thrusting 

 their proboscides up into it 

 through the perforations. The 

 supply of syrup should be 

 given in the evening just after 

 the bees have ceased flying, 

 as less excitement wOl thus 

 be occasioned. In lieu of the 

 shovel we, though with less 

 comfort, may use a piece of tin turned up at the end, or canvas can be 

 tied over the mouth of the bottle, and the latter inverted as before ; but 



rio. 33. Shovel ahd Stkup Cak. 



Fis. 34. 



