FEEDING. 267 



CHAPTER XIV. 



DIRECTIONS FOR FEEDING BEES. 



Few things in practical bee-keeping are more important 

 than the feeding of bees ; yet none have been more 

 grossly mismanaged or neglected. Since the sulphur-pit 

 has been discarded, thousands of feeble colonies starve in 

 the Winter, or early Spiing ; while often, when an unfa- 

 vorable Summer is followed by a severe Winter and late 

 Spring, many persons lose most of their stocks, and 

 abandon bee-keeping in disgust. 



In the Spring, the prudent tee-keeper will no more 

 neglect to feed his destitute colonies, than to provide for 

 his own table. . At this season, being stimulated by the 

 returning warmth, and being largely engaged in breed- 

 ing, bees require a liberal supply of food, and many 

 populous stocks perish, which might have been saved with 

 but trifling trouble or expense.* 



" If e'er dart Autumn, with untimely storm, 

 The honey'd harvest of the year deform ; 

 Or the chill blast from Eurus' mildew wing, 

 Blight the fair promise of returning Spring ; 

 Full many a hive, but late alert and gay, ^ 



Droops in the lap of all-inspiring May." — Etans. 



* " If the Spring is not favorable to bees, they should be fed, because that Is the 

 ^eeaeon of their greatest expense in IfoneyJ for feeding their young. Having plenty 

 at that time, enables them to yield early and strong swanns,'' — Wildman. 



A bee-teeper, whose stocks are allowed to perish after the Spring has opened, ia 

 on a level with a farmer whose cattle are allowed to starve in their stalls ; while 

 those who withhold from them the needed^ aid, in seasons when they cannot gather 

 a supply, resemble the merchant who bums up his ships, if they have made an 

 unfavorable voyage. 



Columella gives minute instructions for feeding needy stocks, and quotes approv- 



