FEEDING. 165 



CHAP. XXI. 



OF FEEDING. 



V ARIOUS have been the methods and 

 materials for feeding bees in winter. I have 

 found none more fuccefsful, cheap, or con- 

 venient, than soft brown sugar, that is 

 not grainy ; a pound to half a pint of mild 

 ale, diflblved over the fire. But as fugar is 

 at the prefent very dear, honey may at this 

 time fupply its place, though inferior for the 

 purpofe. This compofition, which mould 

 be regulated to the confidence of Jyrup, com- 

 forts and ftrengthens the bees, preventing 

 diforders, increafing their activity, and for- 

 warding the brood, if given plentifully in the 

 fpring. 



It is to be adminiftered by means of 



troughs made of joints of elder 9 angelica, 



cr other kexes, flit down the middle, the 



pith and balk taken away, and reduced to 



M 3 fuch 



