154 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



have never known a bee lose its life in the trough of a 

 feeding-board. 



The feeding-cistern holds about 1| quart of syrup, and 

 is handy. When it is used, the board of the hive must 

 be placed very level, so that the liquid runs to the far end 

 of the trough attached. The trough is about three-eighths 

 of an inch deep and 12 inches long. The opening between 

 the trough and cistern must be less, in heighi than the 

 edges of the trough, in order to prevent the syrup from 

 running over, and the bees from going into the cistern. 

 As the bees empty the trough, the cistern fills it. It is 

 generally used at nights — i.e., when bees are not flying 

 about. 



The feeding-trough is an exceedingly handy thing. It 

 is used for giving syrup in small quantities to bees. It 

 holds about a gill, but one could be made to hold more or 

 less, A single troughful of sugar-and-water, costing about 

 one halfpenny, given to a hive daily in dull weather, has 

 a wonderful influence for good, even if the hive is not 

 hungry. Tor the feeding of bees in spring this little 

 trough is unsurpassed for excellence. 



In hives that are not full of combs, a common soup- 

 plate, or a flower-pot saucer, answers well for feeding 

 bees. Some chips of wood or short straws are placed in 

 these saucers. After being filled with the bee-food, 

 they are placed on the boards inside the hives. In 

 times of comb-building, the hives should be lifted off 

 there boards with the greatest care, and without turning 

 them in any way, otherwise their combs might be jarred 

 dowh. We frequently use flower-pot saucers for feeding 

 swarms. Lifting the hive from the board, and gently 

 placing it on the ground for a moment or two, we put the 

 saucer on the board, fill it with the liquid, and lift the 

 hive again on to the board. 



