330 FEEDING BEES. 



whose writings are no longer extant— that this matter should 

 be most carefully {"diligentissime") attended to. 



Spring Feeding. 



606. When bees first begin to fly in the Spring, it is 

 well to feed them a little, as a small addition to their hoards 

 encourages the production of brood. Great caution, how- 

 ever, should be used to prevent robbing. Feeding should 

 always be attended to in the evening (666), and as soon as 

 forage abounds, the feeding should be discontinued. 



Feeding to induce breeding should be done with diluted 

 honey or thin sugar-syrup, warmed before using. This watery 

 and warm food given in small quantities takes the place of 

 fresh honey and, like fresh harvested nectar, saves the bees 

 the necessity of going after water for breeding. It thus 

 serves two purposes, it induces more plentiful breeding and 

 supplies water for the larval food (663, 271). Mr. J. E. 

 Johnson of Williamsfield, Illinois, reported to us great suc- 

 cess by this method which is not usually followed, owing to the 

 care required, for one must be careful not to overdo the feed- 

 ing or feed when the weather is too cold. If a colony is 

 over-fed, the bees will fill their brood-combs, so as to interfere 

 with the production of young, and thus the honey given to 

 them is worse than thrown away. 



The over-feeding of bees resembles, in its results, the 

 noxious influences under which too many children of the 

 rich are reared. Pampered and fed to the full, how often 

 does their wealth prove only a legacy of withering curses, 

 as, bankrupt in purse and character, they prematurely sink 

 to dishonored graves. 



Colonies, which have abundant stores, may be incited to 

 breed, by simply bruising the cappings of a part of their 

 honey. This causes them to feed their queen more plentifully, 

 and more eggs are laid. 



607. Bees may require feeding, even when there are many 



