62 



The Cause of Starvation. 



Given a fair supply of stores in late autumn, when fixing the bees 

 up for winter, a colony will use comparatively Httle during the winter 

 months ; but as soon as breeding begins in the latter part of July or 

 early August the stores are largely drawn upon for feeding the brood, 

 and unless nectar can be gathered to help them out, the stores will 

 rapidly diminish. As a rule, willows and other spring forage afford a 

 good supply in fine weather, but the weather is frequently far from fine 

 at the time — generally unsettled and against the bees securing nectar. 

 Take a case, for example, where the bees have come out of winter 

 quarters with a fair supply of food in the hive, the weather fine, and some 

 nectar is being brought in from the fields. Under these conditions, 

 where there is a good queen, breeding will go ahead very rapidly, and in 

 a short time there will be a big lot of brood to feed, and a large quantity 

 of food needed. If at this time bad weather should set in and last for 

 several days, preventing the bees gathering nectar, probably within a 

 week pretty nearly all the reserve stores within the hive will be used up, 

 and if the bees are not seen to before they arrive at this stage they will 

 probably die of starvation. 



In addition to the above, it is advisable to make a hurried examina- 

 tion of all colonies in the apiary, taking care to select a fine warm day. 

 Expose the brood as little as possible and note any that' are getting 

 short of stores, and feed accordingly. 



Feeding. 



Many beekeepers have been convinced that it is a wise and assuredly 

 a safe policy to make ample provision against possible starvation. 

 Losses have been suffered in this way not once but many times, thus 

 condemning the weak system of leaving but a minimum amount of stores 



Fig. 45. — The Alexander Feeder in Position. 

 a, feeder ; h, bottom-board ; c, super ; d, cover. 



