126 FOOD OF BEES. 
Water. 
271. Water is necessary to bees to dissolve the honey, 
which sometimes granulates in the cells, to digest the pollen 
and to prepare the food with which they feed the larve. 
They can raise a certain amount of brood without water, 
but they always seem to suffer more or less in consequence 
(662). In the Winter, they breed but little, and the 
moisture which condenses on the walls of the hive is gener- 
ally sufficient. Yet we have noticed that as soon as bees 
are brought out of the cellar (653), if the temperature 
is sufficiently warm, a great many will be seen sucking 
water. This fact shows that Berlepsch was right when he 
advised bee-keepers to give water to bees during Winter, 
to avoid what he called disease of the thirst. Besides, 
every one may notice that bees take advantage of any warm 
Winter day to bring it to their hives; and, in early Spring, 
may be seen busily drinking around pumps, drains, and 
other moist places. Later in the season, they sip the dew 
from the grass and leaves. 
272. Every careful bee-keeper will see that his bees are 
well supplied with water. If 
he has not some sunny spot, 
close at hand, where they can 
safely obtain it, he will fur- 
nish them with shallow wood- 
en troughs, or vessels filled 
with floats or straw, from 
‘which—sheltered from cold 
winds, and warmed by the 
genial rays of the sun—they 
can drink without risk of 
drowning. 
A barrel half filled with Fig. 44. 
earth and then filled with WATER SUPPLY BOTTLE. 
: : From Sartori & 
water, in which some water- _‘F70™ 84 Milan, a ot 
