FEEDINO. 829 



barn-yards and drains, is not because they find any medici- 

 nal quality in it, but because as it is near their hives and 

 rearm, they can fill themselves without being fatally chilled. 



I have used water feeders of the same construction with 

 my honey feeders, with great success. The bees are able 

 to enter them at all times, as they are filled with the warm 

 air of the hive, and thus breeding goes on, without interrup- 

 tion, and the lives of many bees are saved. 



The same end may be obtained, by pouring daily, a few 

 table spoonsful] of water into the hive, through one of the 

 holes leading to the spare honey boxes. As soon as the 

 weather becomes warm, and the bees can supply themselves 

 from the dew on the grass and leaves, it will not be worth 

 while to give them water in their hives. 



When supplied with water in their hives, I advise that 

 enough honey or sugar be added to it, to make it tolerably 

 sweet. They will take it with greater relish, and it will 

 stimulate them more powerfully to the raising of brood. 



I come now to mention a substitute for liquid honey, the 

 value of which has been extensively and thoroughly tested 

 in Germany, and which I have used with great advantage. 

 It was not discovered by Dzierzon, although he speaks of its 

 excellence, in the most decided terms. The article to 

 which [ refer, is plain sugar candy, or as it is often called, 

 barley candy. It has been ascertained that about four 

 pounds of this, will sustain a colony during the Winter, 

 when they have scarcely any honey in their hive ! If it is 

 placed where they can get access to it without being chilled, 

 they will cluster upon it, and gradually eat it up. It not 

 only goes further than double the quantity of liquid honey 

 which could be bought for the same money, but is found to 

 agree with the bees perfectly ; while the liquid honey is al- 

 most sure to sour in the unsealed cells, and expose them 

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