FEEDING. 149 



beginners to go forward, even if one bad season succeeds 

 another. Success is certain to the persevering. During 

 the last twenty years we have had far more favourable 

 years for honey-gathering than unfavourable ones. The 

 last few years have been unnsuallj'' favourable for bee- 

 keeping. In our native village in Lanarkshire, the profits 

 of bee-keeping in 1864 were about £4: per hive ; in 1865, 

 about £3; in 1866, about £2; in 1867, nothing; in 1868, 

 between £3 and £i; and in 1869, about £3. But years 

 unfavourable for honey-coUecting may be expected ; and 

 when they come our bees will require attention and feed- 

 ing. We do not care much how bees are fed, so that they 

 get enough. 



As large hives, well populated, gather more honey in 

 favourable weather than small ones, it should be borne in 

 mind that they consume more in rainy weather. Hives 

 that gain 5 lb. per day in fine . weather, lose 1 lb. in 

 weight during the night. Of course, when bees are not at 

 work, the wear and tear and heat of a hive are not so 

 great ; but I have known a hive become 7 lb. lighter, and 

 eat 1 lb. of sugar as well, during one unfavourable week. 

 In a large hive there are probably upwards of 50,000 

 bees, and about the same number in embryo in their cells. 

 Both bees and brood need food, and a great deal of it. 

 He is the best bee-master who feeds his stock liberally 

 and judiciously in rainy summers, for he wiU receis'e in 

 return for all his attention and liberality, good measure, 

 pressed down and running over. If bees be well fed, they 

 remain strong and healthy — the hum of prosperity and 

 contentment is kept up — breeding goes on — thousands 

 are added to the community ; and if fine weather come, 

 they wUl gather twice or thrice as much honey as those 

 that have been barely kept alive. If hives are kept on 



