318 IPEfiOING BEES. 



dangers the life of colonies, on the eve of a plentiful har- 

 vest. 



The best way to feed destitute colonies in Spring is to 

 give them combs of honey, which have been saved from the 

 previous season for this purpose. If such cannot be had, 

 the food may be put into an empty comb, and placed where 

 it can be easily reached by the bees. 



Honey partially candied (830), may be given them, in 

 small quantities, by pouring it over the top of the combs in 

 which the bees are clustered. A bee deluged by sweets, 

 when away from home, is a sorry spectacle ;■ but what is 

 thus given them does no harm, and they will lick each other 

 clean, with as much satisfaction as a little child sucks its 

 fingers while feasting on sugar candy. 



If a colony has too few bees, its population must be 

 replenished before it is fed. To build up small colonies by 

 feeding, requires more care and judgment than any other 

 process in bee-culture, and will rarely be required by those 

 who have movable-frame hives. It can only succeed when 

 everything is made subservient to the most rapid produc- 

 tion of brood. 



Fail Feeding. 



608. By the time the honey-harvest closes, all the colo- 

 nies ought to be strong in numbers ; and, in favorable sea- 

 sons, their aggregate resources should be such that, when 

 an equal division is made, there will be enough food for all. 

 If some have more, and others less than they need, an equi- 

 table division may usually be effected in movable-frame 

 hives. Such an agrarian procedure would soon overthrow 

 human society ; but bees thus helped, will not spend the 

 next season in idleness ; nor will those deprived of their 

 surplus limit their gatherings to a bare competency. 



