204 FEEDIKG. 



CHAPTEE XIII. 



FEEDING. 

 ITS NECESSITY. 



The subject of feeding bees is, latterly, receiving more 

 Attention than has hitherto been deemed essential. It 

 may be easily demonstrated, that with intelligent man- 

 agement in the best locations, and most favorable seasons, 

 no feeding is necessary. 



In 1869, our stock of bees numbered 415 swarms, and 

 the exigencies of the season were such, that when it was 

 over, only six colonies had enough honey to carry them 

 through the winter, and one-half of the whole number 

 had none at all. We fed 5,500 lbs. of honey and sugar, 

 for the winter, besides what we gave them during the 

 summer, to keep them alive, no honey being gathered, 

 except from apple-blossoms. This was the most disas- 

 trous year for bees, in Mr. Quinby's experience of forty 

 years. Between this extreme, and that of not being 

 obliged to feed at all, the necessity for supplying food 

 will vary with the season. 



In 1874, I found feeding necessary from May 1st, until 

 July 30th, before bees gathered honey enough to continue 

 breeding profitably. And yet, after this date, I took an 

 average of 100 lbs. of honey per hive, from my entire 

 apiary, numbering 100 colonies, besides increasing the 

 number to 119, and securing stores enough for winter. 

 Here was an instance of a season opening very unfavor- 

 ably and closing prosperously. 



The year 1875, presented exactly the reverse in many 

 sections. From the first honey-gathering in spring, 

 brood-rearing was stimulated by a moderate supply, and 

 when the general yield began in July, the combs of best 



