and its Economic Management. lys 



In spring it is necessary that the moisture of the hive be 

 retained by placing American oilcloth next above the frames 

 and plenty of warm material above that. All that is required 

 is that the air does not become too dry, and then the sugar 

 will attract moisture to itself and greatly aid the bees in their 

 own processes of adding the necessary liquids. If so little 

 covering is placed above the non-porous cloth that condensation 

 takes place, the sugar is used up too rapidly and the queen 

 crowded out ; especially a's the temperature is reduced enough 

 that the brood nest cannot be extended. 



The feeders (Fig. ii) are placed as an ordinary frame at 

 the outside of the brood nest and the bees allowed only so 

 many combs that they are crowded into them. 



Another very serviceable frame feeder I have in use holds 

 9 or lo lbs,, and is 3 inches across inside, The bottom is 

 simply a sheet of finely perforated tin placed in an arched 

 form, so that the bees may cluster under and appropriate the 

 sugar through the perforations. 



Syrup Feeders 



used in my own apiaries dispense with the tedious process of 

 preparation by cooking as hitherto carried out. 



If a stock happens to be very short 'of stores in spring, I 

 find it best to give a feed of syrup to put the bees in good 

 heart, and then follow with the dry sugar. In autumn, when 

 surplus receptacles are removed, it may be too early to finish 

 off feeding all at once, and it is Well to give ten or fifteen 

 pounds of syrup - immediately and finish gradually with a ten- 

 pound dry feeder. This is, of course, where all the honey has 

 been placed above, but where any have considerable stores on 

 hand but not enough to winter, the balance must be made up 

 rapidly with syrup not later than the end of September. 



Simmins' Syrup Frame Feeder 



(Fig. 53) holds about twelve pounds ; is 4^ inches wide, and 

 otherwise of the " standard " frame dimensions. The joints 



