40 FEEDING. 
early in spring, as we shall thus secure a more satisfac- 
tory amount of surplus honey, and we shall, in nearly 
every case, when a dozen or more swarms are kept have 
a sufficient increase in number of swarms. Feeding the 
bees in early spring on my plan gives them a good start 
and renders them very prosperous throughout the season. 
FEEDING FOR SURPLUS HONEY. 
If you wish surplus honey instead of swarms, put on 
your side boxes as early in the spring as the bees com- 
mence brisk work on flowers,—as a general rule, say a 
few days before fruit blossoms appear. Feed as directed 
for swarms until about ten days before white clover blos- 
soms, then put on the top boxes, leaving room only for 
feeder. ‘Then for ten or twelve days feed them ali they 
will take. Feed at evening. They will at first, per- 
haps, take from five to ten pounds every night. Crowd 
them hard, for the object is now to get every part of the 
brood section (not occupied by eggs and brood) filled 
with honey; and if possible, crowd the bees into the 
boxes to commence the work of comb building, so that 
during the vield of honey from flowers, you can get every 
ounce collected, stored in the boxes. 
By early and judicious feeding, we have encouraged 
breeding so that now our hives are filled, almost over- 
flowing, with bees, ready to gather the harvest from the 
flowers as soon as they begin to yield honey. 
Discontinue feeding while the yield of honey continues 
in full supply from the flowers. At the close of the 
