FORTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES. 281 



water. I do this rather than to put in the full quota of 

 water at first, because in the latter case it is possible that 

 the water would force its way into the reach of the bees 

 without having much sweetness in it, for I forgot to say 

 that I use the Miller feeder. I am not sure that this pre- 

 caution is necessary, but it can do no harm. I now go 

 around and put in each feeder about as much water as 

 will balance the sugar, counting either by pints or pounds. 

 Of course, if twelve pounds or more of sugar should be in 

 the feeder, it will be impossible to balance the sugar with 

 water. In that case I put in all the water I can. Next 

 day or so the liquid will be used out, and I can fill up 

 again. Indeed, in many cases where equal parts of sugar 

 and water are given, the water will be mostly out by the 

 next day, leaving only damp sugar in the feeder, and 

 more water must be added. Practically, this is giving 

 the feed very thin, and I suspect it is all the better. I 

 have never had any trouble from robber-bees while leav- 

 ing the feeders open in the way mentioned, of course 

 covering up as soon as water is all in ; although I have 

 had trouble by leaving a cover on a feeder that was not 

 bee-tight, and with such a cover it is better first to put 

 on a cover of cotton cloth that hangs down all around. 



SELECTING COLONIES TO FEED. 



I have spoken as if a feeder was put over each col- 

 ony lacking stores. That is by no means always the 

 case — indeed, not often the case. There are reasons 

 why it is better to have a comparatively small number of 

 colonies do the storing, taking sealed combs from these 

 to give to the weaker ones. It is a good deal less trouble, 

 when the feeding is begun in good season, to have one 

 colony store enough for five or ten others besides itself 

 than it is to have feeders on all of the five or ten colonies. 



