190 
MANAGEMENT IN SPRING. 
iug to observe bees accustomed to be fed in this man- 
ner watching the approach of the feeder. When the 
ordinary time draws near, they rush down to the box 
the moment it is put upon the board, and, after speed- 
ily filling themselves, they return to the hive, from 
which they very soon return for a second supply. By 
throwing a little fine flour on those leaving the box, it 
will be seen that they can fill themselves in three 
minutes, and are absent not above five. One conve- 
nience that attends feeding with such a box, is the 
exclusion of stranger bees, as the sole communication 
with the interior is from the entrance of the hive.” 
This is a very good contrivance, generally speaking, 
but there should bo no hole for allowing the bees to 
escape from the trough or box when over-crowded, 
as, if left open for a minute through neglect, it would 
give occasion for the very evil intended to be guarded 
against, namely, the admission of strangers ; for what 
affords the means of exit to the former will admit the 
entrance of the latter. There is no need of cork to 
buoy up the float, which, if made, as it should be, of 
thin light fir, will be sufficiently buoyant of itself. 
It mav be remarked, also, that there is no danger of 
filling the box so full as to crush the bees against the 
glass cover ; the describer must have forgot that the 
entrance-hole intervenes, above which the liquid can- 
not rise. The usual mode of supplying the bees by 
this trough is to give the food in the afternoon or 
evening, when all are within doors, and to remove it 
early next morning. This mode of feeding, however, 
ought, as already stated, to be had recourse to only in 
