108 I'lI'TY YfiARS AMOt^G THE BEES 



the bees to go up the middle instead of up the two sides, because 

 the heat ought to be greater at the middle. After a thorough 

 trial of the two, side by side, I am obliged to admit that the 

 improvement is one in theory only, and that the bees go up the 

 sides whenever they will go up the middle, and it seems a little 

 better to have the feed all in one dish. 



If it were not for the expense of keeping two sets of feed- 

 ers, I should like to keep a set of Doolittle division-board 

 feeders, for there may come a time when it is cool and bees will 

 not take feed readily from a Miller feeder, yet would take it 

 from a division-board feeder, because closer to the brood-nest. 

 But most of the time I should prefer the Miller, so that has the 

 preference. 



CEOCK-AND-PLATB FEEDER. 



I have used the crock-and-plate feeder (Fig 43), and it 

 answers a very good purpose. It has the advantage that any 

 one can make a feeder at a minute's notice with materials al- 

 ways ready to hand. Take a gallon crock, fill it half full ot 

 granulated sugar; then fill nearly full of water, all the better 

 if stirred till dissolved ; cover over the crock a thickness of flan- 

 nel or other woolen cloth, or else four or five thicknesses of 

 cheesecloth ; over this lay a dinner-plate upside down ; then 

 with one hand under the crock and the other over the plate, 

 quickly turn the whole thing upside down. Of course a smaller 

 quantity of feed may be used if desired. 



The feeder is then set over the frames of a colony, an 

 empty hive-body placed over, and all covered up so no bee can 

 get to it except through the regular hive-entrance. 



WATERING-CROCK. 



This crock-and-plate feeder is a good one for those who 

 like outdoor feeding, if only a small quantity is to be fed. It 

 also makes a good watering place for bees, if one does not mind 

 the trouble. Better than this is a six-gallon crock standing 

 upright with a few sticks of firewood in it for a watering- 

 crock (Fig. 44). A little salt thrown into the water helps to 



