FEEDING. 351 



hive is populous enough to build new comb, it must be sup- 

 plied moderately, and by all means, regularly, with the 

 materials for doing this ; as the object is to have comb 

 building and breeding go on together, so as mutually to aid 

 each other. If the feeding is not so regular, as to resemble 

 the natural supplies, when honey is obtained from the blos- 

 soms, the bees will not use the food given to them, in build- 

 ing new comb, but chiefly in filling up all the cells previously 

 built. If honey can be obtained regularly, and in suffi- 

 cient quantities from the blossoms, the small colonies or 

 nuclei will need no feeding, until the failure of the natural 

 supplies. 



In all these operations, the main object should be to make 

 every thing bend to the most rapid production of Irood ; 

 give me the bees, and I can easily show how they may be 

 fed, so as to make strong and prosperous stocks ; whereas 

 if their numbers are small, every thing else will be in vain : 

 just as a land where there are many stout hands and coura- 

 geous hearts, although comparatively barren, will, in due 

 time, be made to " bud and blossom as the rose," while a 

 second Eden, if inhabited by a scanty and discouraged 

 population, must speedily be overgrown with briars and 

 thorns. ' 



If strong stocks are deprived of a portion of their combs, 

 so that they cannot from natural sources, at once begin to 

 refill all vacancies, they too must be fed. 



I have probably said enough to show the inexperienced, 

 that the rapid multiplication of colonies, is not a very simple 

 matter, and that they will do well not to attempt it on a 

 large scale. By the time the honey harvest ordinarily closes, 

 all colonies, except in the Apiaries of the skillful, ought to 

 be strong, both in numbers and in stores ; at least the ag- 

 gregate resources of the colonies should be such, that when 



