8» DR. MILLER S 



feeding bees in the spring, so as to stimulate brood-rearing. How 

 shall I proceed, especially when to commence, and what precau- 

 tion to use? 



A. Without a good deal of experience, you may do more 

 harm than good. Don't begin till bees fly freely; feed about half 

 a pound diluted honey or a syrup of sugar and water, half and 

 half. — the honey is better. Feed in the evening, for fear of rob- 

 bing. Every other evening will do. It will do no good to feed 

 when the bees can get even a moderate amount among the flow- 

 ers. Bees are apt to fly out and be chilled and lost by too early 

 stimulative feeding. 



Q. I have three colonies of bees that I am afraid are short 

 of stores, but if they should live until spring, and it gets warm 

 enough so they can fly occasionally, would it be all right to feed 

 them sugar syrup in feeders on top of the frames, a small amount 

 each day, until the flowers bloom? Would it be likely to start 

 robbing? 



A. Instead of feeding a little every day, better give them a 

 good feast, giving it to them as warm as possible, so as to get 

 them. to take enough to tide them over a considerable space of 

 time. If you give them a little every day when they can fly only 

 occasionally it keeps them stirred up and makes them fly out at 

 times when they may be chilled and never get back to the hive. 

 If the feed is given so that no robber can get to it except through 

 the entrance of the hive, there ought not to be much danger of 

 robbing, especially if the feed be given well on in the day. 



Feeding in Fall. — Q. When is the proper time to start feeding 

 for winter? 



A. August, if they can gather nothing later. In general, just 

 as soon as possible after it is known that feeding will be neces- 

 sary. Generally it ought not to be necessary. 



Q. When shall I give the bees their large feed for winter? 



How many pounds of sugar should I give a colony that has 

 very little stores at the present time? (Indiana.) 



A. The sooner the better. September is none too early, but 

 in your locality there will be warm days much later. 



Twenty-five pounds of sugar is none too much for a colony 

 that has no stores. From that you must deduct for any stores 

 they have on hand. Remember, however, that's the weight of the 

 sugar, not sugar syrup, and the water in the syrup will, of course, 

 be additional weight. 



Q. The honey flow seems to be over here, and I have three 



