§ XIX.] FEEDING. 281 



short. In this particular their intelligence is very strik- 

 ing ; they have needed no Malthus to teach them that 

 the means of subsistence must regulate the increase of 

 population. 



' ' Part of the wondrous whole by Heaven designed, 

 Blest with some portion of ethereal mind, * 

 The prescient female rears her tender brood 

 In strict proportion to the hoarded food." 



Evans. 



Judgment has, however, to be exercised to avoid over- 

 feeding, or else so many cells will be filled with honey 

 that the queen can find none in which to deposit her 

 eggs, and thus the progress of the hive will be seriously 

 interfered with. It may also lead to the formation of 

 drone cells — a thing to be avoided under any circum- 

 stances. But if the hive is thoroughly impoverished a 

 more rapid process of feeding becomes necessary, and 

 the honey should be poured between the combs. The 

 bees will lick each other clean after this. 



A very good syrup can be made by boiUng three 

 pounds of loaf sugar with nearly two pints of water. 

 Sugar-candy and barley-sugar have also been each highly 

 recommended for winter and early spring feeding, when 

 small pieces can easily be pushed in at the top of the 

 stock hive a little at a time. They have the advantage 



* "His quid am signis, atque hsec exempla secuti, 

 Esse apibus partem divinse mentis, et haustus 

 ^thereos dixere.'' — Virgil, G. iv. 219. 



