142 THE APIARY. 



" The prescient female rears the tender brood 

 In strict proportion to the hoarded food."' 



Evans. 



Judgrnent has, however, to be exercised by the apiarian 

 in giving food, for it is quite possible to do mischief by 

 over-feeding. The bees, when over-fed, will fill so many 

 of the combs with honey, that the queen, in the early 

 spring, cannot find empty cells in which to deposit her 

 eggs, and, by this means, the progress of the hive is 

 much retarded, — a result that should be guarded against. 

 The following directions will show how the bottle- 

 feeder is to be used : — Fill the bottle with liquid food ; 

 apply the net, affixed by an india-rubber band, over the 

 mouth ; place the block over the hole of the stock-hive, 

 invert the bottle, the neck resting within the hole in the 

 block ; the bees will put their tongues through the per- 

 forations and imbibe the food, thus causing the bottle to 

 act on the principle of a fountain. The bottle being 

 glass, it is easy to see when the food is consumed. The 

 piece of perforated zinc is for the purpose of preventing 

 the bees from clinging to the net, or escaping from the 

 hive when the bottle is taken away for the purpose of 

 refilling. A very good syrup for bees may be made by 

 boiling 6 lbs. of honey with 2 lbs. of water, for a few 

 minutes; or loaf sugar, in the proportion of 3 lbs. to 

 2 lbs. of water, answers very well when honey is not 

 to be obtained. 



