Relation of Food to Wiiitrriiig of Bees. 167 



For this purpose I never found anything better than honey — from 10 

 to 20 per cent is sufficient. September is early enougli to feed ; but 

 when feeding has been neglected until it is so late and the weather so 

 cool that the bees will not leave the cluster and go into the feeder, it 

 may be managed, as explained in the chapter on feeding, by filling the 

 feeder with hot syrup and placing it under the hive. The heat from 

 the syrup will warm up and arouse the bees, when they will come down 

 and carry up the feed. 



But all can not or may not wish to use sugar for winter stores, and 

 many do not need to use sugar to insure the successful wintering of 

 their bees. There is a great difference in localities regarding the char- 

 acter of the honey. Where one has successfully pursued the same course 

 year after }ear, it is doubtful if a change would be desirable ; but what 

 shall the man do who loses heavily nearly every winter, _\'et can not or 

 will not use sugar? Possibly he can so manage that his winter stores 

 are secured from a different source. Mr. O. O. Poppleton takes the 

 ground that the best winter stores come from the most bountiful fields. 

 It is possible that there is something in this. Bountiful yields of any 

 crop are usually of fine quality; but I know of at least one locality 

 where the fall flow of honey is always the most abundant, and I might 

 almost say alzvays abundant, yet so surely will it kill bees that the most 

 extensive bee-keeper in that locality, after an experience i)f many 3'ears, 

 kills his bees in the fall rather than attempt to winter them on this honey 

 by any method. 



But bee-keepers can do this : Notice if any particular kind of honey 

 is more likely to cause trouble, and then avoid its use as winter stores. 

 Part of the bees may be protected upon the summer stands, and part 

 put into the cellar. In a warm open winter the bees out of doors \\ill 

 stand the better chance. In a severe winter the odds will be in favor 

 of the cellar, and their owner must take his chances. 



