THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 



09 



holes which are made in this float may be three eighths of an inch 

 broad, and extending within half an inch of the sides cither way. I 

 have found it useful to apply two or three broad gutta-percha or 

 India-rubber bands to the outside of the ascending tube, which is a 

 great assistance to the bees in finding their way back again into the 

 hive. 



My autumn or winter feeder is exactly the same as the one just 

 described in all respects, save only that the ascending tube does not 

 exceed half an inch in height, or even less, by which means the bees 

 can get in and out of the feeder with the least possible trouble 

 and danger to themselves. Of course the depth of the feeder may be 

 proportioned to the height of the tube of ascent, taking care to allow 

 half an inch at hast between the glass and the tube. 



If a feeder of this sort be well placed over a hole communicating 

 with the most frequented part of the hive, the heat which rises from 

 the interior will make its temperature very agreeable to the bees, 

 even in cool weather ; in this case, however, it ought to be well cov- 

 ered up with flannel, to allow of as little escape of heat as possible. 

 For spring feeding, especially, it would be extremely advantageous to 

 place a bee glass, (straight or perpendicular at the sides,) in the feed- 

 er, fitting so closely against its sides that the floats shall rise and fall 

 within it easily. In this way, (supposing the glass had a warm cap 

 over it,) even spring feeding would lose all its dangerous concomi- 

 tants, as there would be little or no escape of heat from the hive 

 below. 



In the large feeder, about a pound and a half or two pounds of food 

 may be given at a time, without danger of its pouring down the cen- 

 tre shaft into the hive ; while the smaller will afford them as much as 

 they are likely ever to want in any single day, in cooler weather. I 

 can confidently recommend these feeders to general notice, both on 

 the ground of economy and usefulness. Their cost is trifling, and 

 their management perfectly safe and easy. 



While I give directions for the make of a winter feeder, I wish it to 

 be understood that I by no means recommend winter feeding, except 

 in cases of extreme necessity. Indeed, I believe most bee writers name 

 too late a period for supplying the deficiency of a hive's weight, when 

 they mention October as the most suitable feeding time. I would say, 

 feed in August or September, or soon after the final deprivation has 



