206 THE BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 
The requisite feeding to make up the winter store 
ought not to be delayed later than the beginning of 
October, and the weather should be fine when it is 
performed. At that date, accordingly, each hive 
should be fed up to the standard of weight above 
stated, and, at the close of the same month, all syrup 
or honey found to be unsealed should be extracted from 
the cells (a practice of artificial sealing by means of 
melted wax brushed over the combs, has, however, 
been successfully carried out in Germany). Food 
must never be placed in the open air, but under 
a cover; otherwise, the smell would attract wasps, 
or, what is worse, strange bees; in the latter case, a 
battle generally following. 
Feeding Troughs.—The feeding of bees, simple as 
it seems, is often a troublesome process, and without 
due precaution sometimes leads to a good deal of 
disturbance. The common swarming hives present 
much difficulty, from their construction. Having no 
opening at the crown, the clumsy and dangerous 
mode must be resorted to of bottom-feeding; either 
by tearing up the hive for every supply of food, or 
by means of successive strips of wood overlaid with 
food, and pushed within the flight-hole. An improved 
hive gives facilities for presenting food on the top, 
obviating these inconveniences, and allowing of its 
being supplied in any quantity without disturbance, at 
the same time that it is rendered wholly inaccessible 
to enemies. ; 
When there is a hole in the centre of the top of 
the hive, a trough may be used, made of tin or zine, 
seven or eight inches square and one inch and a 
