68 The Townsend Bee Book 
FEEDING THICK SYRUP FOR WINTER 
Knowing the amount of stores needed, it is best to buy 15 to 
20 per cent less of granulated cane sugar than the amount that is 
to be fed. The thicker we can make the syrup, and get the bees to 
take it, the less sugar it will take to make up the shortage. While 
bees will take a sugar syrup thicker than three parts of sugar to 
two of water, we have had rather better results with this portion 
of each. This makes a syrup that weighs in the neighborhood of 
11 lbs. to the gallon; and as good honey weighs 12 lbs. to the gal- 
lon, there is but one pound of moisture to the gallon for the bees 
to evaporate. Of course, there are other losses, so if the colony 
needs 20 lbs. of stores, more than they already have (10 lbs.) they 
should be fed 25 lbs. of the syrup. This would put it in good 
shape, and it would not need looking after again, in regard to 
stores, until the white-honey flow the next June. 
In making syrup of granulated sugar we use a boiler large 
enough to cover the whole top of the stove. This is made of gal- 
vanized iron, and is what we use to melt four 60-lb. cans of honey 
at atime. A wash-boiler might do, but would not be so fast. We 
weigh in the water; then, as the water comes to a boil, add the 
sugar, keeping the contents of the boiler well stirred, after the 
sugar is added, to prevent it from burning to the bottom. As soon 
as all the sugar is melted we empty it into a tank with a gate at 
the bottom, which is elevated, in order to run the syrup from the 
tank, to a 60-lb. honey-can on the scales. We set the scales to 
weigh 55 lbs. net to the can. This will fill the can about the same 
as 60 lbs. of honey. 
The syrup is drawn to the outyards in these 60-lb. cans, and 
is not weighed again. We feed in Miller feeders that hold 20 lbs. 
Four or five tin pails are provided to use in feeding. We weigh 10 
and 15 lbs. of the syrup in these, and mark the levels on the sides 
of the pail. The combination of these two weights will make any 
weight we need, and it is much more convenient than weighing the 
second time, besides being accurate enough for the purpose. As 
we do not feed a colony less than 10 lbs., the hives are marked 10 
Ibs., 15 lbs., 20 lbs., 25 lbs., and 35 lbs. short, the latter weight 
showing that the colony has nothing but empty combs. The colonies 
marked to be fed from 10 to 20 lbs. are fed all their allowance at 
once. The few that are marked to be fed 25 to 35 lbs. are given 
their additional 5 to 15 lbs. as soon as their feeder will hold it. 
To expedite matters, the colonies that have to be fed most are fed 
first; so if any have to wait, it will be those that do not need so 
