372 SPRING DWINDLING. 



A better method still is to supply the bees from time to 

 time with small quantities of thin sugar syrup or watery 

 honey (606) warmed up for this purpose. This takes the 

 place of fresh nectar and saves the bees many a trip for cold 

 water to the neighboring pond. But thin, watery syrup 

 should never be fed at the opening of cold weather, in the 

 Fall. 



Desertixo. 



663. "^^'e have shown {-LOV) that bees sometimes desert 

 their hives, when the colony is too weak, or short of stores, 

 or suffering from dampness, mouldy combs, etc., etc. This 

 desertion, which differs from natural swarming in this, that it 

 may take place in any season, and that the deserting bees do 

 not raise any queen-cells previously, is more frequent in cold 

 backward Springs than at any other time. 



At different times we have seen bees deserting their hives 

 and forsaking their brood for lack of pollen (264). A 

 comb containing pollen having been put in their hive and the 

 bees returned they remained happy. But the worst of these 

 desertions is when the bees have suffered while wintered in- 

 doors (651.) These colonies abandon their hives very soon 

 after being replaced on their Summer stands. TVhen such 

 desertion is feared, it is better not to put out more than 

 one dozen colonies at one time, and to prepare a few dry 

 coml)s, in clean liives, to hive the swarm as soon as possible; 

 for, too often some other colonies following the example, mix 

 with the fir.st, the queens are balled (538), causing great 

 annoyance and lnss to the bee-keeper. Such swarms should be 

 hived on clean diy comb, and furnished with honey and 

 polk'n. The capacity of the hive in which they are put should 

 be reduced to suit the size of the swarm, and increased very 

 cautiously, from time to time, when the bees seem to be 

 crowded; for warmth is indispensable to bees in Spring. The 

 condition of such colonies must be regularly ascertained and 

 their wants supplied. 



