FEEDING BEES. 
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bees, supplying about half a pound at a time. To feed a stock 
in a common hive, cut a hole through the top of the hive directly 
over the cluster, about three and a half inches square. Fit over 
this a box, without bottom or top, four inches square, closing 
the joint between box and hive, with paste or clay. Lay the 
candy loosely across the combs, covering the top with a woolen 
cloth, and upon this, a close fitting board weighed down with a 
brick, to prevent the escape of heat. Old thick honey, or honey 
in the comb, is conveniently fed in this way, or the combs may 
be hollowed out a little and a small sack, of open texture, con- 
taining a mixture of honey and sugar, may be introduced, thus 
saving colonies from starvation even in mid-winter. 
If a colony is discovered, when most of the bees are apparently 
dead, they can usually be revived by sprinkling them with 
diluted sweets, and letting the hive stand a few hours, bottom 
up, in a warm room. "We would feed in the spring, only to 
prevent starvation, and not to hasten breeding, except to obtain 
drones early for queen rearing, or in case of weak stocks, which 
may be built up by a systematic course of feeding. Feed needy 
stocks until fruit trees bloom. If honey cannot be had for this 
purpose, make a syrup, by dissolving two pounds of good brown 
sugar in a pint of water. This makes an excellent spring feed, 
and may be used sparingly in the fall, but if much is stored in 
the combs, it will sometimes sour or granulate and become worse 
ftan useless to the bees. 
PROFITS OF BEE-KEEPING. 
Bees are kept for profit, pleasure, or recreation; and as a 
•loans of promoting or regaining health. Unlike other live 
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