336 



FEEDING BEES. 



While such methods succeed in a mild and damp climate, 

 like that of France, they are not advisable in the Northern 

 part of the United States, unless the bees are wintered in 

 cellars (646). 



615. The prudent Apiarist will regard the feeding of 

 bees — the little given by way of encouragement excepted — 

 as an evil to he submitted to only when it cannot he avoided) 

 and will much prefer that they should obtain their supplies 

 in the manner so beautifully described by him whose inimitable 

 writings furnish us, on almost every subject, with the hap- 

 piest illustrations: 



' ' So work the honey-bees, 

 Creatures that, by a rule in Nature, teach 

 The art of order to a peopled kingdom. 

 They have a king and officers of sorts. 

 Where some, like magistrates, correct at home. 

 Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad; 

 Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings. 

 Make boot upon the Summer's velvet buds; 

 Which pillage they, with merry march, bring home 

 To the tent royal of their emperor. 

 Who, busied in his majesty, surveys 

 The singing masons building roofs of gold; 

 The civil citizens kneading up the honey; 

 The poor mechanic porters crowding in 

 Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate; 

 The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum. 

 Delivering o'er, to executors pale. 

 The lazy, yawning drone." 



Shakespeare's Henry V, Act 1, Scene 2. 



616. All attempts to derive profit from selling cheap 

 honey or syrup, fed to bees, have mvariably proved unsuc- 

 cessful. The notion that they can change all sweets, however 

 poor their quality, into honey, on the same principle that cows 

 secrete milk from any acceptable food, is a complete delusion. 



Pifferent kinds of honey or sugar-syrup fed to the bees 



