bee-kbefer's manual. 313 



pound of it to about four and a half cents ; and from 

 five to ten pounds, will generally be sufficient for the 

 most destitute family ; which, at most, will not cost over 

 45 cents. Thus it may be seen, that for this trifling 

 sum, and perhaps often for half the amount, a family of 

 bees may be kept from famine. The method of prepa- 

 ring syrup from sugar, is to heat it over a fire, until it 

 begins to boil, when it should be taken off, and let it 

 stand half an hour for the scum to settle, and harden, 

 in order to skim it off with facility ; and when cool, turn 

 it into the feeder, and put on the float, and set it before 

 your bees. At first, they will hardly notice it, but a few 

 drops should be placed about the feeder, to call their 

 attention to it, and when they once get a fair scent of it, 

 a gallon will be taken away in a few hours, and stored 

 in the cells. This way of feeding, is when the whole 

 colony are fed, rather than select here and there a fam- 

 ily. Mild weather in October should be selected for 

 this purpose, and all the food should be furnished that 

 they may require during the winter ; and a family will 

 carry enough honey, or syrup into the hive in a single 

 day, if not disturbed by other families, to suffice for 

 several months. If it be desired to feed a single family, 

 it must be done secretly, that other families may not be 

 attracted ; and for this purpose a small feeder is neces- 

 sary. Take a small tin pan, six inches long, four wide, 

 and one or two deep. Make a very light, wooden float, 

 and perforate it full of holes, with a pointed iron heated 

 red-hot. Fill the feeder with honey, or syrup, and place 

 it in the chamber of the hive, scattering a little around, 



