64 THE BOOK OF THE HONEY BEE 



All feeding should be finished, and the bees packed 

 up for the winter, by the middle of September or the 

 first of October at the latest. (See chap, xvii., "Pre- 

 parations for the Winter "). 



Should supplies from any cause run short during the 

 winter, candy is the only possible food. To prepare 

 this take : — 



Pure cane sugar . . .6 lbs. 



Water . . . . . i pint. 

 Cream of tartar . . .1 teaspoonful. 



Dissolve in an enamelled pan over a slow fire. When 

 solution is complete raise the whole to boiling point, 

 briskly stirring so as to avoid burning. Allow it to boil 

 for one minute, withdraw from the fire, and drop a small 

 quantity on to a cold plate. If at all sticky when 

 touched, boil again for another minute, until a drop 

 tested as above does not stick to the fingers. At once 

 remove it from the fire, add half a tablespoonful of the 

 napthol beta solution, plunge the pan into a larger one 

 containing cold water, and stir briskly until the mixture 

 turns white and begins to stiffen. Pour into square 

 dripping tins lined with paper and allow to cool. Cakes 

 weighing about two pounds each are a convenient size. 



Well made candy, although perfectly stiff, should be 

 smooth in grain, and should be readily scraped into a 

 soft buttery consistency. 



Most dealers in bee-keeping appliances make candy, 

 and it is perhaps advisable to purchase an odd pound 

 as a criterion when first candy-making is essayed. 



Should either syrup or candy unfortunately be burnt 

 during manufacture, on no account give it to the bees ; 

 burnt sugar being most injurious. Neither should beet 

 sugar be used in the preparation of bee foods for a 

 similar reason. 



Candy made as just described, but with the addition 



