The Care of Bees in Winter 345 



exceptions to these statements, however, since buckwheat 

 honey is satisfactory. Most honeys from tree sources are 

 not so good as those from smaller plants because of the higher 

 gum content. Honey-dew honey should not be left in the 

 hives for winter stores, but if some is present the danger may 

 be reduced by feeding ten pounds or more of sugar syrup 

 after brood-rearing ceases. In case the colony is found to 

 be short of stores a syrup made of granulated sugar may be 

 fed. If the feeding is done early, one part of sugar to one 

 part of water (by measure) is a proper proportion, but for 

 later feeding one part of water to two and one-half parts of 

 sugar is preferable. To the latter syrup, add one teaspoonful 

 of tartaric acid to fifteen or twenty pounds of sugar while 

 it is being heated to change the cane sugar to invert sugar. 

 Heating should be continued until every crystal is dissolved. 

 Late feeding should be done rapidly. The use of candy 

 for colonies which exhaust their stores in winter should be 

 considered as an emergency treatment and nothing but 

 granulated sugar should be used in making the candy. Be- 

 fore cold weather arrives each colony to be wintered out of 

 doors should have in the combs thirty pounds of honey and 

 preferably more. 



Cause and effects of humidity in the hive. 



In winter, especially in a cold or poorly ventilated cellar, 

 the atmosphere in the hive may become so laden with 

 water vapor that water will condense on the cover, combs 

 and sides of the hive, drop to the bottom board and even 

 run out the entrance. The source of this moisture is, of 

 course, the food of the bees. Honey is a carbohydrate, and 

 when consxmied ultimately becomes carbon dioxid and water, 

 one gallon of honey producing approximately one gallon 

 of water. Unless the moisture is carried off in the form of 

 vapor by convection currents in the atmosphere, ■ it will 

 be condensed in the hive, for bees do not ventilate the hive 

 by fanning when clustered. 



The condensation of water may be prevented by raising 



