46 FEEDING. 



each side of the half-inch space leading to the feed, 

 and on top of the slats of the feeder, so the bees 

 may find the way to the feed. After they once 

 learn the road, they will need no coaxing to induce 

 them to take the feed given them. The first warm 

 days in early spring, as soon as the bees can fly a 

 few hours in the middle of the day, mix corn meal 

 with rye meal, equal parts, and set out in pans or 

 other shoal dishes, near the hives. The bees will 

 carry this to their hives in considerable quantities. 

 It is used as a substitute for pollen, or bee bread, 

 and is very essential in forwarding the increase of 

 bees in early spring. The meal should be fed very 

 early in spring, for as soon as the bees can collect 

 pollen from the natural sources — trees, shrubs, 

 flowers, etc., they will not take this meal. If rye 

 meal cannot be obtained, use unbolted wheat flour. 



Feeding for Early Swarms. 



If you wish early swarms, keep the bees confined 

 in their labors to the brood section of the hi% e, or in 

 other words, do not give them access to the boxes, 

 and commence as early in the spring as the bees 

 begin to fly in the middle of the day, and feed each 

 stock at evening about one-half pound of the liquid 

 feed. Continue this till your swarms issue, then 

 discontinue feeding. 



Feeding for Surplus Honey. 



If you wish surplus honey instead of swarms, put 

 on your side boxes as early in the spring as the bees 

 commence brisk work on flowers, — as a general 



