162 SPEIlfG. 



and fill the combs with honey, that ought to be filled 

 •with brood, and thereby defea.t your object ; one pound 

 per day is enough, perhaps too much. The quantity 

 obtained from flowers is a partial guide ; when plenty, 

 feed less ; when scarce, more. Begin as soon as you 

 can make them take it up in spring, and continue in 

 accordance with the weather, till white clover blost 

 soms, or swarms issue. Another object in feeding 

 bees at this period, is to have the store combs all filled 

 with inferior honey, so that when clover appears, 

 (which yields our best honey,) there is no room except 

 in the boxes to store it, which are now put on, and 

 I'apidly filled. When this last object is alone wished 

 for, it is not much matter how much is given at a time, 

 providing it is all taken up through the night ; it will 

 then take no time in day -light, when they might work 

 on flowers; also, the bees would have no trouble in 

 repelling any attempt of others to get at it. 



WHAT MAT BE FED. 



Inferior honey may be used for this purpose; South- 

 ern or West India is good, and costs but little. Even 

 molasses sugar mixed with it will do ; but they do 

 not relish it so well when fed without the honey. I 

 have usually taken about equal quantities of each, 

 adding a pint of water to ten pounds of this mix- 

 ture, and making it as hot as it will bear without 

 boiling over, and skimming it. 



IS CANDIED HONEY INJURIOUS 1 



There has an idea been advanced, that candied 

 iioney is injurious to bees, even said to be fataL J 



