58 



THE BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING. 



frame to another without having to go into the cold atmosphere 

 at the lower part of the hive. Flour candy can be given them 

 with advantage at this season of the year. 



102. Dry Sugar Feeding. — This is another system of 

 feeding in very early spring (but feeding with soft candy is 

 preferable). It is conducted in the following manner : A 

 thin piece of paper, having about a dozen holes made with a 

 pencil being pushed through just over the position where the 

 bees cluster, is laid on top of the frames, first removing the 

 quilts. On this paper three or four pounds of Porto Rico sugar 

 is laid and pressed down firmly; it will then form almost a solid 

 cake. Upon this the quilts are laid, an enamel one first, with its 

 bright side down. The condensation of the moisture from the 

 bees will soften the sugar, which has the peculiar property of 

 taking up moisture more readily than any other description, and 

 so forms syrup, the bees using it as fast as produced. This sugar 

 can also be fed to them in a feeder at the back of the hive; but 

 in cold weather this often fails, as the bees have to leave the 

 cluster to get at the food. The feeder used for this purpose is 

 a double dummy-board, having one wall removable. The space 

 between the two walls is filled with sugar. The inner wall does 

 not quite reach the top bar; this allows a space for the bees to 

 enter at the top and 

 feed. There is a little 

 more waste by feeding 

 on top of the frames, 

 but it is much the 

 safest plan. 



103. Artificial 

 Pollen. — This must 

 be given the bees, 

 directly crocuses blos- 

 som, in boxes distri- 

 buted in sunny corners 

 near the hives. Straw 

 should be first chopped 

 up in lengths of 2in. 

 or 3in., and laid on the 

 bottoms of the boxes, 

 the flour (par. 76) be- 

 ing thickly sprinkled 

 on this. A roof must 



be provided, to prevent inexpensive Pollen- feeder. 



any ram drivmg m, or 



the flour will cake ; the boxes must also be raised from the ground, 



that dampness may not similarly affect the flour. The illustration 



makes this clear ; A, A, A are the roof supports to allow bee-space. 



