FEEDING. 
157 
outside. If the weather is cool, they appear to he 
lifeless ; yet they can be revived, and now must be fed. 
DIRECTIONS FOR FEEDING. 
Those among the combs may be able to move, 
though feebly. When this is the condition of things, 
invert the hive, gather up all the scattered bees, and 
put them in. Get some honey ; if candied, heat it till 
it dissolves; comb honey is not so good without 
mashing; if no honey is to be had, brown sugar may 
be taken instead ; add a little water, and boil it till 
about the consistence of honey, and skim it ; when 
cool enough, pour a quantity among the combs, di- 
rectly on the bees ; cover the bottom of the hive with 
a cloth, securing it firmly, and bring to the fire to 
warm up. In two or three hours they will be revived, 
and may be returned to the stand, providing the 
honey given is all taken up ; on no account let any 
honey run out around the bottom. The necessity of 
a daily visit to the hives is apparent from the fact, that 
if left over for one day, in the situation just described, 
it will be too late to revive them. At night, if you 
have a box cover, such as I have recommended, you 
may open the holes in the top of the hive ; fill a small 
baking dish with honey or syrup, and set it on the top ; 
put in some shavings to keep the bees from drowning, 
or a float may be used if you choose ; it should be 
made of some very light wood, very thin, and full of 
holes or narrow channels, made with a saw. At the 
commencement of feeding, a few drops should be scat- 
