204 FEEDING. 
CHAPTER XIII 
FEEDING. 
ITS NECESSITY. 
The subject of feeding bees is, latterly, receiving more 
attention than has hitherto been deemed essential. It 
may be easily demonstrated, that with intelligent man- 
agement in the best locations, and most favorable seasons,. 
no feeding is necessary. 
In 1869, our stock of bees numbered 415 swarms, and 
the exigencies of the season were such, that when it was 
over, only six colonies had enough honey to carry them 
through the winter, and one-half of the whole number 
had none at all. We fed 5,500 lbs. of honey and sugar, 
for the winter, besides what we gave them during the 
summer, to keep them alive, no honey being gathered, 
except from apple-blossoms. This was the most disas- 
trous year for bees, in Mr. Quinby’s experience of forty 
years. Between this extreme, and that of not being 
obliged to feed at all, the necessity for supplying food 
will vary with the season. 
In 1874, I found feeding necessary from May Ist, until 
July 20th, before bees gathered honey enough to continue 
breeding profitably. And yet, after this date, I took an 
average of 100 lbs. of honey per hive, from my entire 
apiary, numbering 100 colonies, besides increasing the 
number to 119, and securing stores enough for winter. 
Here was an instance of a season opening very unfavor- 
ably and closing prosperously. 
The year 1875, presented exactly the reverse in many 
sections. From the first honey-gathering in spring, 
brood-rearing was stimulated by a moderate supply, and 
when the general yield began in July, the combs of best 
