316 FEEDING BEES, 



CHAPTER Xn. 



Feeding Bees. 



606. Few things in practical bee-keeping are more im- 

 portant than the feeding of bees ; yet none have been more 

 grossly mismanaged or neglected. Since the sulphur-pit 

 has been discarded, thousands of feeble colonies starve in 

 the Winter, or earlj- Spring ; while often, when an unfavor- 

 able Summer is followed by a severe Winter, and late 

 Spring, many persons lose most of their colonies and aban- 

 don bee-keeping in disgust. 



In the Spring, the prudent bee-keeper will no more neglect 

 to feed his destitute colonies, than to provide for his own 

 table. At this season, being stimulated by the returning 

 warmth, and being largely engaged in breeding, bees re- 

 quire a liberal supply of food, and many populous colonies 

 perish, which might have been saved with but trifling 

 trouble or expense. 



" If e'er dark Autumn, with untimely storm, 

 The honey'd harvest of the year deform ; 

 Or the chill blast from Eurus' mildew wing. 

 Blight the fair promise of returning Spring; 

 Full many a hive, but late alert and gay, 

 Droops in the lap of all-inspiring May." Evans. 



" If the Spring is not favorable to bees, they should be fed, 

 because that is the season of their greatest expense in honey, for 

 feeding their young. Having plenty at that time, enables them 

 to yield early and strong swarms." — (Wildman.) 



A bee-keeper, whose colonies are allowed to perish after 

 the Spring has opened, is on a level with a farmer whose 

 cattle are allowed to starve in their stalls ; while those who 

 withhold from them the needed aid, in seasons when they 



