THE APIARY. 
389 
The stand is made of hard wood, with a circular 
depression to receive the bottle neck, and a hole to 
centre the pivot. It is hollowed beneath, so that the 
bees may extend their cluster upwards, holding on to 
the cloth [cl) which covers the under side, and feed 
from the perforations, standing over the slot [si] in 
perfect comfort, even in the chilliest weather. The 
slot, |-in. wide, lies beneath the whole semicircle of 
perforations when the index [i) stands at 12, so that 
many bees simultaneously regale themselves ; but turn- 
ing the bottle begins to place the holes, one after 
the other, over the unslotted part, and so reduce the 
number reachable, as indicated by the index and 
figures — the latter marked on the stage — until o is 
reached, when the supply is actually cut off. The 
fact that bees from four or five frames can pass at 
once into the dome is occasionally an advantage. 
Top feeding is most expedient in cold, bad weather, 
for even strong colonies, if at such times in need, can 
hardly break from the cluster in order to bring in 
sweets which may lie but a few inches distant, unless 
these sweets are so positioned that they are really 
kept warm by the bees. Giving this due consideration, 
it is well to remember that bottle feeders all admit 
of being used behind a division-board not extending 
quite to the floor of the hive, as explained at page 56; 
but they then require to be raised on two strips, to 
give the bees access beneath, and a few drops of 
syrup spilt will be at first desirable, as hinting where 
riches may be gathered. 
The ingenious bee-keeper will at once improvise 
feeders suitable for standing in the position last 
