68 FEEDING BEES. 
particles of combs, and other dirt, that accumulate in the hive during 
winter, and when the hives are set upside down, all this filth falls 
down among the combs, and will often mould and sour, and injure 
the combs very much. 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
FEEDING BEES. 
Ferpine I consider a very important part of bee-management, al- 
though it has been almost entirely neglected by a large majority of 
bee-keepers; many, however, are devoting more attention to the sub- 
ject than formerly, and when they have been enabled to manage so 
as to prevent robbing, they have been well repaid for their trouble. 
There is certainly a most decided advantage to be derived from feed- 
ing, in several respects. 
Ist. It enables the apiarian to winter his late and feeble swarms at 
a trifling expense, that, if taken up, would yield him but a small 
amount of honey, but when wintered over, often make as good stock 
hives as any. 
2d. It frequently occurs that strong and populous colonies 
perish with hunger, during the months of March and April, that one 
half hour’s attention and twenty-five cents worth of feed would have 
prevented. 
3d. Colonies even that have sufficient honey to sustain them, are 
very much benefited by feeding a little during March and April, as it 
strengthens and encourages them, and as I have already stated, it in- 
duces the queen to commence laying earlier than she otherwise 
would. 
4th. Colonies that are fed early in spring, will usually throw off 
swarms full two weeks earlier than those that are not. This I con- 
sider of much importance, as two weeks’ time during the last of May 
and first of June, is worth almost as much to a swarm of bees, as all 
