bee-keefer's manual. 311 



be very mild, more than this quantity will be required ; - 

 but not in an ordinary season. The apiarian should be 

 able from practice, to know at once on raising his hives, 

 whether the above quantity exists in them or not. 

 Hives that have been occupied several years, will be as 

 heavy without any honey, as others that have been used 

 but one season, with from five to ten pounds ; therefore, 

 an allowance must be made for the weight of old combs, 

 and bee-bread. 



FEEDING BEES. 



When it is ascertained what families are short of 

 honey, measures should at once be taken to supply them, 

 since the cost of feeding a family, is not one- tenth of its 

 value. The month of October, should be selected for 

 this purpose. If but one or two families, out of ten or 

 twelve, require feeding, it is best to feed thoge alone ; 

 but if there be a general scarcity or lightness of the 

 hives, I recommend feeding the whole in the apiary, at 

 the same time. I am aware that feeding bees is gene- 

 rally looked upon as one of the greatest difficulties at- 

 tending their management ; and rather than attempt it, 

 many bee-keepers suffer their bees to perish. The diffi- 

 culty is just as great as it is to carry a pail of feed to the 

 pig-pen, and no greater. Do not understand me, by this 

 comparison, that bees will take honey from a trough, as 

 a pig will take meal and water. It only requires a little 

 difference in tendering it to them, however. 



