grapes. Forest leaves are excellent, and planer shavings; 
or chaff are good; but sawdust, clover chaff or anything 
which draws and holds dampness should be avoided. Some 
use straw, but it is too open and cold unless cut fine. 
FEEDING FOR WINTER. 
At all times during summer and early autumn care 
should be taken to see that colonies do not starve. So long 
as they have enough for daily food winter feeding should be 
delayed until the first half of October. For the experiment, 
each hive of Lot A must be given all the syrup it will take. 
This may be anywhere from 10 Ibs. to 40 or 50 Ibs., depend- 
ing on the strength of the colony and the amount of stores 
it already has. The syrup is made of two parts best granu- 
lated sugar to one of water. Boil the water then add the 
sugar and stir till thoroughly dissolved. The only points to 
be observed are to avoid scorching the sugar and to see that 
no granules are left in the syrup to start crystalization after _ 
it has been stored in the combs. The feeder consists of the 
feeder-board and three atmospheric feeders. The board is 
made of # inch lumber cut 16% inches by 20 inches to fit the 
hive like a honeyboard. Three circular holes 24 inches in 
- diameter are made in it for the feeders with key-hole saw or 
extension bit. When in place there must be a bee-space over 
the frames. If the hive does not provide this a # inch rim 
is nailed to the board. The feeders are two quart fruit jars 
covered with cheese cloth held on by the ring, or ten pound 
lever cover honey pails with a number of small holes punch- 
ed in the lids. When these are filled and inverted over the 
hoies in the feeder-board, atmospheric pressure prevents 
any leakage, and the bees take the syrup through the cloth 
or perforations and store it in the combs. 
When feeding time comes in the early part of October, 
the packing is removed from over the feeder-boards and 
three filled pails or jars are inverted over the three holes. 
If the days are warm this is done towards evening to prevent 
robbing, and if the nights are cool packing is put around the 
feeders to hold the brood-chamber heat and help the bees. 
take down the feed. As fast as feeders are emptied they 
should be refilled, until the: bees signify that they have 
enough by ceasing all work on the feeders. The latter are 
then removed, the burlap, paper and packing are replaced, 
and the roof is adjusted for the winter. The feeding may 
take a week or more in cool weather, but should be gotten 
through with as rapidly as possible after it is once started. 
If these directions have been followed carefully the bees 
of Lot A will require no further attention until spring. In 
10 
