41 
who would have the knowledge requisite to enable them to deal 
properly with both the cast and the parent stock under varying 
conditions; it is advised that the inexperienced bee-keeper 
should return a cast to the parent stock (97). 
XII, FEEDING. 
Feeding is necessary from time to time throughout_the year 
for the following reasons :— 
101. Reasons for In Summer :—{a.) When, owing to un- 
Feeding. favourable weather the inflow of honey is 
so precarious that unless food is supplied, 
breeding will be slackened or cease, or brood may be cast out. 
(b.) To assist swarms to develop when the honey flow is in- 
sufficient. (c.) To assist a stock during or after transfer from 
a fixed comb hive (87). 
In Autumn : —(a.) To stimulate breeding. (b.) To bring the 
winter food supply up to the proper weight. 
In Spring :—To stimulate breeding, and to preserve the lives 
of bees when their stores are running short. 
The feeder (88) is used as follows:—Cut a hole in the 
quilt of a size to suit the feeder to be 
used; the centre of the hole to be about 
six inches from the front edge of the 
quilt and midway between its sides, 
leaving a section uncut so that the flap may 
be turned back for feeding and afterwards replaced (Fig. 34). 
Place the feeder or feeding stage over the opened hole in the quilt, 
and pour into the feeder the desired amount of syrup. Then 
cover the feeder and brood nest amply with warm coverings, 
taking care when packing not to push the feeder out of position. 
At all times when feeding is practised, the food should be given 
in the evening after the bees have stopped flying ;_ this is neces- 
sary as a precaution against inciting to robbing (141). 
102. Method of 
Using Feeder. 
If the weather is warm and the honey flow good after a swarm 
has been hived (76), the bees should be 
103. Summer Feeding. able to provide for themselves; but if the 
weather is wet or cold, or if the bees are 
bringing in little honey, the swarm should be fed with one quart 
of summer syrup (178) by quick feeding (40), after which slow 
feeding (88) may be given if necessary. It is to be noted that 
no harm can at any time accrue by feeding a swarm until supers 
can be put on (108), provided that the feeding is limited to 
what is necessary, but very serious harm may ensue if the swarm 
is left without food when food is wanted. Breeding should be 
encouraged in the case of a newly-hived swarm, and it will cease 
if the food supply falls too low. Dead brood lying at the hive 
entrance is an almost certain indication that the stock is starv- 
ing; sometimes, but rarely, it is the result of robbing. 
It is generally considered by beekeepers that stocks may be 
