Elements of Beekeeping 15 



count of danger of introducing diseases. Syrup made from 

 granulated sugar and water is the best substitute. A strong 

 colony Mali need more stores than a weak one ; in either case, a 

 syrup made of two parts of sugar and one of Avater, by measure, 

 should be used. Stir the sugar into the warm water until dis- 

 solved and in no case cook the syrup directly over a hot fire, 

 because of the danger of scorching. 



A simple feeder can be made by using a tin pan containing 

 excelsior or grass. The pan is placed on top of the frames in 

 an empty super and the syrup poured over the excelsior or 

 grass. Lean pieces of wood on the pan so the bees can crawl 

 up to it and spill a little of the syrup on the pieces and over 

 the frames to attract the bees. Feeding should be done late in 

 the day, to avoid robbing. It is desirable that bees have plenty 

 of stores given them a month before they go into their winter 

 nest. 



Wintering. In wintering out-of-doors the colony should be 

 packed in a large box, allowing for packing space four inches 

 beneath the hive, six on the sides and ten on top. Any loose 

 packing material, such as excelsior, planer-shavings, dried forest 

 leaves or straw containing considerable chaff, can be used. Dry 

 forest leaves are one of the best insulators and are easily ob- 

 tained. An empty super, placed on top of the brood-chamber 

 with the inner cover between, is filled with leaves. Many bee- 

 keepers place a shallow or full-depth super of honey over the 

 brood-chamber. From the hive entrance to the outside of the 

 packing ease a tunnel may be constructed of two boards held 

 apart by 3/8 inch cleats. Four 3/8 inch auger holes are bored 

 thru the packing case to the tunnel and these may be reduced to 

 two in extreme weather. In using the tunnel adequate packing 

 should be provided. A poorly packed colony will not be able 

 to carrj^ out the dead bees, the tunnel will become clogged and 

 the colony suffocated. 



A large packing case holding four colonies can be con- 

 structed on the same plan as that used for a single hive. Two 

 hives are placed side by side and back to back with two others 



