44 PROFITABLE BEE-KEEPING 



with a metal top perforated with nine small holes. 

 This is inverted on a metal plate contained in a 

 wooden stage. The metal plate is furnished with 

 a slot, and by turning the bottle round feed may 

 be given from any number of holes from one to 

 nine, or it may be withheld entirely. At the be- 

 ginning of September this slow feeding should 

 be stbpped, and food should be given as rapidly 

 as the bees will take it, until the hives contain 

 thirty pounds each of food. This may be esti- 

 mated by examining the combs, noting that about 

 4J inch square of sealed comb equals one pound. 

 For this fast feeding what is known as a rapid 

 feeder is often used, a box-like receptacle hold- 

 ing about a half-gallon of syrup, but bottle feeders 

 will do if the bees are allowed to feed from all 

 the holes. The recipe for syrup for autumn feed- 

 ing is as follows: iolb. of best cane sugar, 

 5 pints of water, i tablespoonful of vinegar, and 

 a pinch of salt. Boil for a few minutes. 



Spring, feeding or spring stimulation is practised 

 entirely with the graduated feeder if continual 

 feeding is required. It should be commenced 

 at about six weeks before the expected honey 

 flow, that being the time that an average stock' 

 takes to get into condition. Food should be given 

 very slowly, from one or at most two holes of the! 

 feeder, but it must be continuous. During, the 

 whole of this six weeks the bees must be handling 

 food without ceasing, but they must not be storing 

 it in any quantity. While honey or syrup is com- 



