FEEDING. 345 



On one occasion, I gave to a stock on which robbing bees 

 were practicing such a base imposition, a fertile queen, at 

 sundown, after the robbing had ceased. Ne.\t morning the 

 bees gave the rogues such a warm reception, that they were 

 glad to make a speedy retreat. May not the fertile mother 

 give to each colony a peculiar scent.? and may not a hive 

 which has no such queen, be so pleased with the odor of 

 other bees as to let them do what they will with their 

 stores > 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Directions for Feeding Bees. 



There are few things in the practical department of the 

 Apiary, more important, and yet more grossly neglected, or 

 mismanaged, than the feeding of bees. To make this sub- 

 ject as clear as possible, I shall begin with the Spring ex- 

 amination of the hives, and furnish suitable directions for 

 feeding, whenever it ought to be attempted. In the movable 

 comb hives, the exact condition of the bees with regard to 

 stores, may be easily ascertained, as soon as the weather is 

 warm enough to lift out the frames. In the common hives, 

 this can sometimes be learned from the glass sides ; but 

 often, no reliable information can be obtained. Even if the 

 weight of a hive is known, this will be no sure criterion of 

 the quantity of honey. The comb in old hives, is often very 

 thick, and of course, unusually heavy ; while vast stores of 

 useless bee-bread may entirely deceive the Apiarian, who 



