POLLEN. 95 



bees cease to carry away the meal ; that is, until the blos- 

 soms furnish a preferable article. The average consumption 

 of each colony is about two pounds. . 



Mr. F. Sontag, a German Apiarian, says that in the Spring 

 of 1853, he fed one of his colonies with rye meal, placed in 

 the hive, in an old comb, and that he continued the supply 

 until they could procure fresh pollen abroad. This colony 

 produced four strong swarms that Spring, while an adjoining 

 stock not supplied with the meal, produced only one, and 

 that was weak. 



Another German bee-keeper says he has used wheat flour 

 with very good results. The hees forsook some honey which 

 had been set out for them, and engaged actively in carrying 

 in the flour, which was placed about twenty paces in front 

 of their hives. 



The construction of my hives, permits the flour to be easily 

 placed where the bees can take it, without being compelled 

 to waste their time in going out for it, or suffer from the 

 want of it, when the weather confines them at home. 



The discovery of this substitute, removes a serious obstacle 

 to the successful culture of bees. In many districts, there is 

 a great abundance of honey for a few weeks in the season ; 

 and almost any number of colonies, which are strong when 

 the honey-harvest commences, will lay up, in a good season, 

 sufiicient stores for themselves, and a large surplus for their 

 owners. In many of these districts, however, the supply of 

 pollen is often so insufiicient, that, in Spring, the new colo- 

 nies of the previous year, are found destitute of this article ; 

 and unless the season is early, and the weather unusually 

 favorable, the production of brood is most seriously checked, 

 and the colony becomes strong too late to avail itself, to the 

 best advantage, of the superabundant harvest of honey. 



While the honey bee is regarded by the best informed 



