I 6 Bee-l'eepiiiii in ]' icturia . 



In Australia, we have no sucli diiSculties, and in consequence bee- 

 keepers pay too little attention to the subject of wint-ering so far as the 

 condition of their colonies at the beginning of winter is concerned. Yet 

 it is the condition of a colony, as to quantity and quality of stores, age 

 and vigour of queen, and number of worker bees at the end of one season, 

 which largely determines the prosperity of, and the yield of honey from, 

 that colony in the season following. 



The first consideration is the amount of honey required by each colony 

 for its winter use. This varies according to the strength in bees, the 

 conditions of weather during winter, and the earlier or later pres- 

 ence in spring of nectar and pollen-producing flowers. On an average 

 each colony should have from 25 to 30 lbs. of sealed honey to winter 

 normally. When, as sometimes happens, the brood combs contain con- 

 siderably less than that quantity, it will have to be supplemented either 

 by substituting combs of sealed honey for the outer empty combs of the 

 brood chamber, or by feeding sufficient honey or sugar syrup to brino- 

 the total quantity up to requirements. 



Giving combs of sealed honey, which have been put by for that pur- 

 pose during the season, is the easiest way of supplementing winter stores, 

 but it should not be practised unless the apiary is, and has been for some 

 time, entirely free from foul-brood, as m this interchange of combs there 

 IS always a risk of spreading disease. When, owing to the absence of 

 a stock of sealed honey, or on account of a suspicion of disease, it be- 

 comes necessary to feed, sugar syrup is much to be preferred to honey. 

 Honey, although it is the natural food of bees, excites them much more 

 than sugar syrup. There "is also the risk of introducing the germs of 

 brood diseases with honey of unknown origin, while its stronger odour 

 may attract bees from other hives, and thus cause trouble by starting 

 robbing. 



Feeding should always be done inside the hive in a properly con- 

 structed feeder. In the case of colonies which do not cover all the 

 combs of the brood chamber, some of the outside combs may be removed 

 before feeding is commenced, so that the whole of the syrup given will 

 be stored in as few combs as possible, and where it will be cover*ed by the 

 cluster of bees, and thus prevented from souring. 



Sugar syrup is made of two parts (by weight) of lA sugar and one 

 part water. The water is brought to boiling point and the sugar added, 

 keeping the vessel on the firfc and stirring continuously till the liquid is 

 perfectly clear. On no account should the syrup be left on the stove oi 

 fire without stirring, as it burns very easily, and in that state is injurious 



to bees 



To supply this syrup to the bees without waste and drownino- it is 

 necessary to have a feeder. Fig. 1, known as the simplicity feede? may 

 be purchased of a supply dealer at 4d. It is a block of wood, grooved 

 out so as to leave narrow divisions to prevent bees getting drowned This 

 IS the most convenient form of feeder for box-hives. The box is raised at 

 one end, the feeder placed on the floor board, and the syrup poured in 

 while still warm; the box is then lowered again. If a stock of bees is 

 quite out of stores, at least 5 lbs. of syrup should be given and more later 

 on if required. It will be better to give the syrup as fast as the bees 

 will take it than to continue feeding for days ; for the longer the excite- 

 ment lasts the more food is consumed without purpose. 



