136 A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



consumption, but the Bees must not have enough given 

 to fill their combs, or the damp arising from it will very- 

 likely cause dysentery, and if over supplied they will be 

 apt to store it in the centre combs, being the nearest, 

 and these are all just which should be left for the 

 Queen's use. Barley sugar is a very good food for such 

 times, and may be given to the Bees either in a bottle, 

 or put into the hive, not too much at a time, or it may 

 liquify and form a trouble as well as waste. Barley 

 sugar, superior to that bought at confectioners, may be 

 made as follows, viz. : — 



Break up three pounds of loaf sugar, place it in a 

 saucepan or preserving pan, and pour half a pint of cold 

 water upon it and half a wine-glass full of vinegar ; these 

 are all the ingredients required. Prepare a fire in a 

 grate, the top bar of which will let down in a similar way 

 to that in an ordinary kitchen grate, taking care, how- 

 ever, that at the commencement of the operation the bar 

 is up in its place, and the grate full to the top with 

 glowing cinders or wood embers, so that a great heat 

 may be obtained without any flame. The saucepan con- 

 taining the sugar place upon the fire and stir it without 

 ceasing. In a few minutes it will begin to assume the 

 character of dirty broth, which will have anything but a 

 nice appearance, but presently a thick scum will rise, and 

 the mass will try to boil over. As soon as this is ob- 

 served, the saucepan should be removed from the fire 

 until the ingredients have cooled a little, when it should 

 be set on the grate again in such a way that only a 

 small part of it is over the fire ; the boiling will then go 

 on on the exposed side ; and, as the ebullition takes 

 place, the scum will be forced to the side not over the 

 fire, whence it may easily be removed with a spoon. 

 Thus the saucepan is held in the left hand, the spoon in 



