354 FEEDING. 



to enter the boxes, or it is not probable that the supply 

 will continue long enough to enable them to fill them, 

 the removal of some of the combs from the main hive, 

 so as to have empty ones filled, will often prove highly 

 advantageous. 



If, in the Fall, the bee-keeper finds that some of his colo- 

 nies need feeding, and are not populous enough to make 

 good stocks in the ensuing Spring, then instead of wasting 

 time and money on them, he should at once, break them up, 

 for they will seldom pay for the labor bestowed on them, 

 and the bees will be much more serviceable, if added to 

 other stocks. The Apiarian cannot be too deeply impressed 

 with the important truth, that his profits in bee-keeping will 

 almost always come from his strong stocks, and that if he 

 cannot so manage as to have such colonies early, it will be 

 better to let bee-keeping alone. 



West India honey has for many years, been used to very 

 good advantage, as a bee-feed. It should never be given in 

 its raw state, as it is often filled with impurities, and is very 

 liable to sour or candy in the cells, but should be mixed with 

 about two parts of good brown sugar, to three of honey, 

 and one of water, and brought to the boiling point ; as soon 

 as it begins to boil, it should be set to cool, and as all the 

 impurities rise to the top, they may be skimmed off. If 

 it is too thick, a little more water may be added to it ; it 

 ought, however, never to be made thinner than the natural 

 consistence of good honey. Such a mixture will cost, for 

 a small quantity, about seven cents a pound, and will pro- 

 bably be found, with the exception of dissolved sugar-candy, 

 the cheapest liquid food which can be given to bees. 



In my hives, the bee-keeper may feed his bees, without 

 any feeder at all, or rather he may use the bottom-hoard of 

 the hive as a feeder. On this plan, the bees should be shut 



