158 SPEING. 



tered on the top of the hive and trailed to the side of 

 the dish, to teach them the way ; after feeding a few 

 times, tliey will know the road. When the weather 

 is warm enough for them to take it during the night, 

 it is best to feed at evening, — from four to eight ounces 

 daily, is sufficient. If the family is very small, what 

 honey is left in the morning may attract other bees ; 

 it is then best to take it out, or carry the hive in the 

 house to a darkroorp, sufficiently warm, and feed them 

 enough to last several days, and then return them to 

 the stand ; keeping a good lookout that they are not 

 plundered, and again in a starving condition, until 

 flowers produce honey sufficient. 



WHOLE TAMILIES MAT DESERT THE HrVE. 



When you have the means to keep up a supply of 

 food, and time requisite to make feeding secure, per- 

 haps it would not be advisable to wait till the last 

 extremity before feeding, as a small family will some- 

 times entirely desert the hive, when destitute, if it oc- 

 curs before they have much brood. In Ihese cases, they 

 issue precisely as a swarm ; after flying a long time, 

 they either return, or unite with some other stocks 

 If they return, they need attention immediately. You 

 may be certain there is something wrong, let the de- 

 sertion take place when it may ; in spring it may be 

 destitution, or mouldy combs ; at other times the 

 presence of worms, diseased brood, &c. By whatever 

 cause it is produced, ascertain it, and apply the rem- 

 edy. 



