44 PROFITABLE BEE-KEEPING 
with a metal top perforated with nine small holes. 
This is inverted on a metal plate contained in a 
wooden stage. The metal plate is furnished with 
a slot, and by, turning the bottle round feed may 
be given from any number of holes from one to 
nine, or it may be withheld entirely. At the be- 
ginning of September this slow feeding should 
be stopped, and food should be given as rapidly, 
as the bees will take it, until the hives contain 
thirty pounds each of food. This may be esti- 
mated by examining the combs, noting that about 
4} inch square of sealed comb equals one pound. 
For this fast feeding what is known as a rapid 
feeder is often used, a box-like receptacle hold- 
ing about a half-gallon of syrup, but bottle feeders 
will do if the bees are allowed to feed from all 
the holes. The recipe for syrup for autumn feed- 
ing is as follows: 1olb. of best cane sugar, 
5 pints of water, 1 tablespoonful of vinegar, and 
a pinch of salt. Boil for a few minutes. 
Spring feeding or spring stimulation is practised 
entirely with the graduated feeder if continual 
feeding is required. It should be commenced 
-at about six weeks before the expectéd honey, 
flow, that being the time that an average stock 
takes to get into condition. Food should be given 
very slowly, from one or at most two holes of the 
feeder, but it must be continuous. During the 
whole of this six weeks the bees must be handling: 
food without ceasing, but they must not be storing 
it in any. quantity. While honey or syrup is com- 
