TEEDING. 207 



dimensions can be varied to suit. In the center of 

 one side, near the top, is a '/j-in. hole, and near each 

 end, on either side of this hole, are two others, large 

 enough to slip over a nail-head. 



In the panel, at the side of the Quinby frame, I bore a 

 y^-in. hole to correspond with the one in the cup, and 

 drive two small nails at proper distances each side, upon 

 which to hang the feeder. A cap may be made to 

 shut out bees from the outside. I lay a piece of glass over 

 it, to be able to see when it is empty. These feeders are 

 coated on the inside with a mixture of shellac and sand, 

 that the roughness may give the bees a footing. A float 

 is made of */j-inch board, and '/^ inch smaller each way 

 than the inner dimensions of the feeder. Across the 

 underside of this, at each end, is a cleat '/, X'/g inch. 

 This is nailed on with small tacks just long enough to 

 clinch. If, in each end of the cleats, a tack is driven 

 partially in, so that the head comes within '/, inch of the 

 cleat, the float will rest upon the heads of these tacks 

 when the feeder is about empty, and the bees will be able 

 to pass under it. This will allow the bees to remove the 

 food more completely than if it rested directly on the 

 bottom. The fact should always be borne in mind, that 

 bees should never have access to liquid honey, without 

 something being placed in it to sustain them. 



The feeder above described, can be used in connection 

 with the hanging-frame hive, in the spring, when each 

 swarm contains but a limited number of frames, and a 

 close-fitting division-board is used to economize space. 

 A hole may be bored in this board, and the feeder ad- 

 justed as above. 



For feeding at the top of the hive. I know of nothing 

 better than the Van Deusen feeder (flg. 83). After flU- 

 ing, it is inverted and placed over the opening on the top 

 of the hive. Atmospheric pressure prevents the escape 

 of the honey or syrup. If adjusted properly, the feeder 



