FEEDING. 177 



from half a pint to a pint of syrup per day to each 

 colony, in proportion to the size of the colony. The 

 effect was magical ; confidence seemed to be restored ; 

 they were encouraged to proceed with the various 

 manipulations necessary for the development of 

 strong, vigorous colonies; feeding was continued 

 whenever a scarcity of honey occurred. The result 

 was very satisfactory, having a large increase of col- 

 onies during the season, all in good condition for 

 wintering. 



ANOTHER CASE WHERE BEES WERE NOT FED, UNDER 

 SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. 



Two bee-keepers in Yuba county, California, in 

 the spring of 1859, had a pretty large stock of bees 

 in partnership; they began increasing the number 

 by division, or artificial swarms, and continued doing 

 so rapidly. All went well so long as the honey 

 harvest continued ; when that failed, the bees, having 

 but a small amount in store, which was soon con- 

 sumed, abandoned their brood, which perished, and 

 was pronounced foul brood, resulting in a heavy 

 loss to the owners, before the return of a honey 

 harvest. Those that survived seemed much less vig- 

 orous than those that were fed. The difference in 

 the final result of the year's operation, as compared 

 with those fed properly, was more than one-half. 



Some one may be ready to suggest at this point, 

 that if they had not been divided, the difficulty re- 

 ferred to had not occurred. Well, perhaps it would 

 not. But let us see how those in the common box 



