THE HONEY HARVEST. 



over it. It may either be placed near, or on top of the hive with 

 the tube going into a hole in the top of the hive. 



It is bad to be compelled to feed bees in 

 the winter, as, by descending to the bottom 

 of the hive in order to get at the food, they 

 expose themselves to cold, and many perish ; 

 by early examination in autumn, and uniting 

 weak hives, together with judicious feeding 

 at that season, if necessary, the winter man- 

 agement will be simplified. 



Bees kept in boxes are as liable as any 

 others to the attacks of insects, mice, weasels, 

 and other foes. In such case the stand 

 should have been removed, and traps or 

 poison used to banish the vermin. You will 

 sometimes find the bees strong in numbers, 

 yet poor in stores. This may also be a re- 

 sult of the presence of moths, &c, in the 

 hive ; that should, therefore, be examined, 

 and the intruders removed. Do not, on any 

 account, fumigate a hive with tobacco or sulphur for the purpose 

 of expelling or destroying moths ; for, if you fail of destroying 

 your bees along with them, you may safely calculate on, at all 

 events, rendering the honey injurious to them ; and, in some 

 cases, especially when tobacco has been used, absolutely poisonous. 

 Doubtless, it was honey, impregnated with these deleterious 

 fumes, that Mr. Huish found to give his bees the dysentery. 

 When bees are found to be thus rich in numbers and poor in 

 store, it frequently happens that the cause is the loss of the queen ; 

 for if anything happen to the sovereign, the community speedily 

 decay away. The remedy in this instance is, of course, union to 

 another stock. If this occur in winter, I should recommend you 

 to unite, and feed abundantly. Mr. Nutt, however,- says, that 

 when this occurs in winter, all your feeding will be thrown away, 

 and your bees perish, despite your care. Some people also defer 

 feeding until the bees are absolutely in want. This is very 

 wrong ; the assistance should be rendered several weeks before 

 the hive is in a state of positive destitution, otherwise, when you 

 do feed, the bees will be too weak to avail themselves of your 

 bounty. The good mode of feeding is, to put the honey, or syrup, 

 as the case may be, in a shallow box ; lay over the sweet liquid 



