43 



hive (148) a cast may be taken with safety a month later than 

 the dates given above, the mated queen being substituted for 

 the virgin queen of the cast. 



XII.— FEEDING. 

 Feeding is necessary from time to time throughout the year 

 for the following reasons : — 



101. Beasons for In Summer : — (o.) When, owing to un- 

 Feeding. favourable weather the inflow of honey is 



so precarious that unless food is supplied, 

 breeding will be slackened or cease, or brood may be cast out. 

 (b.) To assist swarms to develop when the honey flow is insuffi- 

 cient, (c.) To assist a stock transferred from a fixed comb 

 hive on the systems recommended (86) (87), if a frame of 

 honey is not available for the purpose. 



In Autumn : — (a.) To stimulate breeding or to encourage 

 the drawing out of comb, (b.) To bring the winter food supply 

 up to the proper weight. 



In Spring : — To stimulate breeding and to preserve the lives 

 of bees when their stores are running short. 



The feeder (88) is used as follows : — ^Cut a hole about the size 

 of a shilling in the quilt, about three inches 



102. Method of from the front and midway between its 

 Ugiiig Feeder. aides, leaving a section uncut so that the 



flap may be turned back for feeding and 

 afterwards replaced (Fig. 33). Place the feeding stage on the 

 quilt, figures up and to the back of the hive, the hollow in the 

 centre of the stage being over the opened hole in the quilt ; then, 

 having filled the. glass feeder with syrup and screwed the cap 

 on, place it in inverted position on the stage, with the marker 

 pointing to the number of holes to which it is desired that the 

 bees shall have access. The hive should then be warmly 

 packed around the feeder, to prevent the escape of heat, taking 

 care when packing not to push the feeder out of position. At 

 all times when feeding is practised, the food should be given 

 in the evening after the bees have stopped flying ; this is neces- 

 sary as a precaution against inciting to robbing (141). It is 

 also to be remembered that as the introduction of a feeder above 

 the brood nest causes a loss of heat, a little extra covering 

 should be supplied over the brood nest, and especially around 

 the feeder. 



If the weather is warm and the honey flow good after a swarm 

 has been hived (76), the bees should be 

 103. Summer Feeding able to provide for themselves ; but if the 

 weather is wet or cold, or if the bees are 

 bringing in little honey, the swarm should be fed with summer 

 syrup (178) , giving two holes of the feeder (38). It is to be noted 

 that no harm can at any time accrue by feeding a swarm until 

 supers can be put on (108) , provided that the feeding is limited 

 as recommended to two holes ; but very serious harm may ensue 

 if the swarm is left without food wihen food is wanted. Breed- 

 ing should be encouraged in the case of a newly-hived swarm. 



