THE APIARf. 



"with young strong bees when the next harvest opens, and are enabled to 

 secure much more surplus honey than if neglected. 



In warm weather, almost any kiud of a feeder, placed in the cap, with 

 floats, to prevent drowning, will suffice. Good floats are made of thin 

 boards, one-half inch less in size than the vessel. Nail a piece across 

 the centre to prevent splitting, and with a coarse saw, slit the board in 

 narrow strips, from each end to the cross piece. Three things are speci- 

 ally desirable in a feeder: That they be accessible for bees, without 

 leaving an unnecessary hole into the broodnest, which permits heat to 

 escape; that they be filled and examined, without the escape of a bee; 

 and, that they be tight to prevent leaking. 



Tin vessels of various kinds, have been made. These hold the honey 

 well, but at times bees will not readily enter the cold metal, when feed- 

 ing is desirable. Boxes of various kinds have been made, with entrances 

 from below, and close glass tops. These answer a good purpose. 

 Frames or boxes with duck cloth bags, are sometimes used, but they 

 are in the way in the broodnest, and if used above, the syrup often crys- 

 talizes in the cloth and makes it stiff. The simplest feeders are made 

 with the auger. Take a strip of two-inch board, six inches wide and 

 with a one and a half inch centre bit bore two auger holes three-fourths 

 of an inch apart, from one edge nearly through to the other. Near the 

 back end, bore with the same auger, directly in the division between 

 the two nearly through. This connects the two and makes a hole for 

 pouring in the food from the top. Tack in it a wire cup, made by bend- 

 ing over the thumb a piece of wire cloth, to keep back the bees when 

 feeding. On this division near to the front, bore with the same auger 

 holes one-half inch deep, side by side, nearly to the front, and in the 



