THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
45 
There is only one way that I have found it 
can be done without waste where the bees are 
admitted to the sugar from the bottom of the 
lump, and that is, when placed on the frames 
just over the cluster, and pressed down tightly. 
First lay a sheet of newspaper over the frames, 
on this place several pounds of the above- 
mentioned sugar and press it down well all 
round. It then forms into a cake with a crust 
that I have known to support the weight of 
clustering bees and newdy built combs, after 
the bulk had been used in spring, just as if it 
had been an inverted dish. No grains are 
wasted — first, because of the pressure, and 
then the moisture of the hive causing all to 
adhere closely together. No liquid appears, 
and yet the sugar is always in the best possible 
condition for use. The body of sugar adds an 
additional protection to the bees, and, unlike 
sticks of candy, the crust is left till last, form- 
ing a complete air-chamber immediately above 
the cluster. A strong colony will soon open a 
way through the paper where it bulges down 
between the frames. For a weak lot a tear 
should be made to givo them a start. Instead 
of paper a piece of cheese-cloth can be placed 
first on the frame, and would be preferable 
if applied in midwinter. It is hardly neces- 
sary to state that this sugar can be moulded 
to any shape to suit the formation of roof or 
quilting, which latter should be very warm. 
For slow feeding, where it is known the bees 
have somes stores on hand, or for brood stimu- 
lation later, porous cloth only need be applied; 
and where the case is urgent, or more rapid 
feeding is necessary, place a piece of oiled 
cloth next above the sugar, with smooth side 
to the same. 
In cases of emergency, where bees have been 
bought in spring short of food, and being in 
odd hives, I have placed the usual dry-feeding 
dummy close on top of the frames, with the 
slot next to but standing across them. The 
hives being smaller than the standard, no 
other feeders were at hand suitable. When 
covered up warm the sugar soon disappeared, 
and though side feeding is at times more con- 
venient to the beekeeper, without a doubt in 
cool weather, there is no place so suitable for 
the bees wherefrom to take their food as that 
immediately above the cluster. I do not sup- 
pose every one will discontinue the prepara- 
tion of bee food by cooking, but at my own 
apiaries, of several hundred colonies, no time 
is now wasted in that manner, and l have no 
doubt this last application of dry-sugar feeding 
will be welcomed by many who are now getting 
anxious about the condition of their stocks. 
S. SIMM INS. 
STIMULATING. 
From jliacriraa Bee Journal. 
11 x "stimulation," is usually understood, a 
supply of food given in driblets, generally at 
spring time. The system has its advocates 
and opponents. The former argue that the 
bees and queen, perceiving that food is coming 
in, are incited thereby to earlier preparation 
for brood-rearing than would otherwise have 
taken place. The latter, granting this, are of 
opinion that the bees, stimulated to early 
brood-rearing, are induced to leave the hive 
in search of pollen, water, or food at unseason- 
able times, and during the prevalence of cold 
spring winds, and so perish in numbers, being 
chilled, and unable to reach their hives ; hence 
follows spring dwindling, with its attendant 
evils, until finally the colony is often lost. 
In our opinion, spring dwindling arises 
chiefly from another cause, viz., dysentery or 
diarrhoea. The intestines having become 
diseased by improper food, and too low a 
temperature, the vitality of the colony is 
reduced, and that to so great an extent that 
its members perish while in search of food, 
and in the performance of their heavy spring 
labors. Once entered upon the downward 
road the final catastrophe soon follows — the 
brood - nest becoming circumscribed. No 
matter how prolific the queen may be, it 
gradually becomes less and less ; eggs laid are 
neglected or devoured, owing to the paucity 
of nurse bees to incubate them, and the end 
comes through robbery, desertion, or death. 
We have never found judicious feeding of 
fairly populous colonies at spring injurious, 
but care must be taken to feed so sparingly, 
that the brood nest shall not become a reposi- 
tory for food instead of brood. 
Many colonies have at spring more honey 
than their wants demand. In such cases, we 
prefer the repeated uncapping of a few cells 
near the brood nest to give syrup, the stimu- 
lating effect being quite as great, and, as the 
brood is extended, and the outer clogged 
honeycombs may be extracted and returned 
to the hive. This plan is productive of more 
extensive, and more certain stimulation of 
brood- rearing, than any other with which we 
are acquainted. 
Exhibit ok Honey. — It was estimated that 
there were 20 tons honey exhibited at the 
Indian and Colonial Exhibition. 
Sting Preventers. — In our account of the 
; meeting of the Victorian Beekeepers’ Associa- 
tion, reference is made to the discovery and 
use of certain substances to prevent bees 
stinging the hands and face when handling 
hives. The substance is in the shape of an 
oily fluid, which has to be smeared over the 
skiu, and it is stated by many to act quite 
, like a charm. There is, however, considerable 
controversy about the value of these sub- 
stances, or " Apifuges,” as they are called, 
especially about the merits of two kinds of 
substances sold by different dealers. The 
most favorable testimony is given of “ Orirn- 
shaw ’s Fluid,” which is now advertised Jur sale 
at Is. Gd. to 2s. (id. per bottle by Abbott 
Brothers, Southall, London. 
