FEEDING. 361 



method of feeding weak stocks. Feed some of the strong- 

 est, which are best able to seal over the honey, and defend 

 their stores, and then transfer the full frames to the weak 

 stocks ! 



The question, how much hooey will carry a colony safely 

 through the perils of Winter, is one to which it is impossible 

 to give an answer which will be definite under all circum- 

 stances. Much will depend on the warmth of their hive, 

 and the forwardness of the ensuing Spring. It is frequently 

 impossible, in the common hives, to form any reliable esti- 

 mate of their resources, since the combs are often so 

 heavy with bee-bread, as entirely to deceive even the most 

 experienced bee-keepers. 



I should always wish to leave at least twenty-five pounds of 

 honey in a hive ; and as each comb can be examined, it can 

 always be known how much a colony has. If there is any 

 reason to fear that their supplies may fail, a few pounds of 

 sugar candy may be put where they can easily get access to 

 it, in case of need. In my hive, the careful bee-keeper 

 may not only know exactly the resources of each colony, in 

 the Fall, but may, very early in the Spring, ascertain pre- 

 cisely how much honey is still on hand, and whether his 

 bees need feeding, in order to preserve their lives. 



Posel says that if a colony has suffered from hunger for 

 twenty-four hours, the fertility of its queen will be greatly 

 impaired, and never recovered. A fertile mother is certainly 

 a great feeder, and if one is kept away from the bees, a very 

 short time, she will solicit food, as soon as returned ! This 

 should be remembered, in all operations involving the tem- 

 porary removal of queens, and care should be taken to give 

 them honey, or better still, to put with them a few well fed 

 workers. " From nothing, nothing comes ;" and a mother 

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