i!80 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



ill the latter ease it is possible that the water would force its 

 way into the reach of the bees without having much sweetness 

 in it, for I foroot to say that I use the Miller feeder. I am 

 not sure that tliis precaution is necessary, but it can do no 

 liarin. I now go around and put in each feeder about as much 

 water ns will Ijulanee the sugar, counting either by pints or 

 ])ounds. Of course, if twelve pounds or more of sugar should 

 be in tlie feeder, it will be imjiossible to balance the sugar 

 with watei-. In that case I init in all the water I can. Next 







Fig. 101 — Second-Class Sections. 



day or so tlie liquid will be used out, and I can fill up again. 

 Indeed, in many oases wliere 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 leaving the feeders open in the way mentioned, of 

 course covering up as soon as the water is all in; although I 

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

 l)ee-tight, and with such a cover it is better fii'st to ])ut on a 

 cover of cotton cloth that hangs down all around. 



