90 BEEKEEPIISrG 



host of young ones to feed in early Feb- 

 ruary and thus add a still greater drain 

 upon their resources. It is not necessary 

 to remove the covers from a colony to de- 

 termine if they are short of stores. After 

 a very little practice the beekeeper can 

 tell by lifting the hive whether or not it 

 contains any surplus honey. If it is found 

 to be short of stores then provision must 

 be made to feed the bees with sugar sirup 

 prepared by boiling cane sugar and water 

 in the proportion of two parts by weight 

 of sugar with one of water. This sirup 

 can be placed in a shallow pan into which 

 a handful of leaves, grass or sticks has 

 been thrown. The "trash" will afford a 

 chance for the bees to crawl out without 

 drowning in case their enthusiasm gets 

 the better of their equilibrium. These 

 pans are to be placed directly over 

 the brood frames in a super from 

 which the interior parts have been re- 

 moved. The lid or cover should be re- 

 turned to its place with care because it is 



