12 



FEEDING FOR WINTEE. 



At all times during summer and early autumn care should be taken to see 

 that colonies do not starve. So long as they have enough for daily food winter 

 feeding should be delayed until the first half of October. Each hive should then 

 be given all the syrup it will take. This may be anywhere from 10 pounds to 40 

 or 50 pounds, depending on the strength of the colony and the amount of stores 

 it already has. The syrup is made of two parts best granulated sugar to one of 

 water. Boil the water, then add the sugar and stir till thoroughly dissolved. The 

 only points to be observed are to avoid scorching the sugar and to see that no 

 granules are left in the syrup to start crystallization after it has been stored in the 

 combs. The feeder consists of the feeder-board and atmospheric feeders. The 



The four hives have been packed on sides, feeder^boards are In place 

 and 2-quart fruit jars with syrup inverted over them. In cool 

 weather packing material is filled in amongst the feeders to 

 conserve hive temperature. If this is not done the bees will not 

 take the feed. When the jars are empty they are removed. 



board is made of %-inch lumber cut 16% inches by 20 inches, to fit the hive like 

 a honeyboard. Circular holes 2V2 inches in diameter are made in it for the 

 feeders with key-iole saw or extension bit. When in place there must be a bee- 

 space over the frames. If the hive does not provide this a %-ineh rim is nailed to 

 the board. The feeders are two^quart fruit-jars covered with cheese-cloth held 

 on by the ring, or ten-pound lever-cover honey pails, with a number of small 

 holes punched in the lids. When these are filled and invented over the holes in 

 the feeder-board, atmospheric pressure prevents any leakage, and the bees take the 

 syrup through the cloth or perforations and store it in the combs. 



