358 FEEDING. 



ing. I believe that one reason why bees frequent barn-yards 

 and drains, is not so much because they find any medicinal 

 quality in the impure water, but that being warm, and near 

 their hives, they can drink without being fatally chilled. 



If the feeder previously described, is supplied with water, 

 the bees are able to enter it when they cannot leave their 

 hive, and thus breeding goes on, without interruption, and 

 the lives of many are saved. The same end may be obtained, 

 by pouring daily, a few table spoonsfuU of water into the 

 hive, through one of the holes leading to the spare honey- 

 boxes. 



When supplied with water in their hives, it is better to 

 sweeten it a little. The bees prefer it, and it will stimulate 

 them more powerfully to the raising of brood. 



I come now to mention a substitute for liquid honey, the 

 value of which has been extensively and thoroughly tested 

 in Germany, and which I have used with great advantage. 

 It was first introduced by the Rev. Mr. Weigel, of Silesia, 

 and Dzierzon and other distinguished Apiarians, speak of its 

 excellence, in the most decided terms. The article to which 

 I refer, is plain sugar-candy. It has been ascertained that 

 about four pounds of this candy, will sustain a colony during 

 the Winter, when they have scarcely any honey in their 

 hive ! If it is placed where they can have access to it 

 without being chilled, they will cluster upon it, and gradually 

 eat it up. It not only goes further than double the quantity 

 of liquid honey which could be bought for the same money, 

 but is found to agree with the bees perfectly ; while the 

 former is almost sure to sour in the unsealed cells, exposing 

 them to dangerous, and often fatal attacks of dysentery. I 

 sometimes invert the old fashioned box hive, and push sticks 

 of candy gently between the ranges of comb, in which the 

 bees cluster. The bottom-board may then be replaced, and 



