30 A Modem Bee-Farm 



if warm. The honey sources of the day are about dried up 

 by three p.m., and the bees do not often work actively after 

 that time. As in the early morning, they then carry in much 

 water to help in preparing the food for the young, a mixture 

 of pollen and honey, first digested by the nurse bees, or those 

 not yet old enpugh for outside work, and given to the unsealed 

 larA'ae as a milky fluid. During the warm part of the day, not 

 a bee will be found at the water fountain if there happen to 

 be a heavy flow of honey ; but should there be a scarcity, 

 many will be carrying water the whole day ; even if it be rain- 

 ing they continue their flights to the same spot by force of 

 habit. It is, of course, understood that bees must have, honey 

 (or syrup),- but, do not at any time lose sight of the fact that 

 in building up in Spring, it is absolutely necessary that they 

 have both pollen and matey as well. 



Substitute for Pollen ; Water Supply, &c. 



If there is any sign of scarcity, nitrogenous food can be 

 given in the shape of "a thick paste, formed by -mixing pea- 

 flour with good honey (syrup will not do). With a thin broad . 

 stick press this into the cells of a tough comb to the extent of 

 half of one side and place the same next the cluster. Water 

 can be given in large milk pans, either with sawdust at the 

 bottom ; moss ; or wood to float as a resting place ; taking 

 care that the vessel shall stand in a warm, sheltered spot. 



Young Bees take their Share of Work. 



The honey gatherer will generally give up its load to the 

 younger bees, returning at once to the fields, and it will be 

 found that during the day the hives are filled almost exclu- 

 sively with younger bees not yet able to work outside, and as 

 these do most of the comb-building as well as store the honey, 

 have we not here the reason why the pollen is so seldom found 

 in new-stored combs ? Of course, we know that pollen is re- 

 quired near the brood nest, but much of it is purposely stored 



