THE APIARY. 
417 
and then, if the fields are yielding nothing, Mr. Simmins’ 
dry-sugar feeders may be used, permitting them 
to continue breeding, but with constantly decreasing 
energy, until the latter part of September, when 
their stores, if necessary, should be quickly com- 
pleted by a dose of syrup, which the bees will at 
this date seal over almost completely. Delay in this 
matter* will oblige them to go into winter quarters 
to their disadvantage, with much of their store un- 
sealed; while the surplus combs, presently to be 
removed, will be in poor condition for keeping till the 
following spring, to be then returned as explained 
under “ Spring Stimulation.” Of course, we are 
speaking of stocks that have been totally deprived. 
The amount of store required by a colony much 
depends upon the manner of wintering — the less ade- 
quate the protection, and the more faulty the method, 
the greater the amount of food required. It is false 
economy to leave a stock too poor, and those with 
more than a sufficiency are not only safer, but usually 
come out stronger than others ; 2olb., or about four 
standard frames fully stored, is generally mentioned 
as the correct amount, and strong stocks should not 
have less. Yet the consumption, apart from the pro- 
duction of brood, from the middle of October to the 
beginning of March, need not, in average seasons, be 
more than one-fourth of the weight given. 
Some bee-keepers insist upon the necessity of keep- 
ing up breeding^with some briskness until the end of 
* The difficulty of successful wintering with unsealed stores has been 
much exaggerated. "With proper management, the question of sealing 
is of secondary importance. 
VoL. II. 2 E 
