162 
SPRING. 
and fill the combs with honey, that ought to be filled 
with brood, and thereby defeat your object ; one pound 
per day is enough, perhaps too much. The quantity 
obtained from flowers is a partial guide ; when plenty, 
feed less ; when scarce, more. Begin as soon as you 
can make them take it up in spring, and continue in 
accordance with the weather, till white clover blos- 
soms, or swarms issue. Another object in feeding 
bees at this period, is to have the store combs all filled 
with inferior honey, so that when clover appears, 
(which yields our best honey,) there is no room except 
in the boxes to store it, which are now put on, and 
rapidly filled. When this last object is alone wished 
for, it is not much matter how much is given at a time, 
providing it is all taken up through the night ; it will 
then take no time in day-light, when they might work 
on flowers; also, the bees would have no trouble in 
repelling any attempt of others to get at it. 
WHAT MAY BE FED. 
Inferior honey may be used for this purpose; South- 
ern or West India is good, and costs but little. Even 
molasses sugar mixed with it will do ; but they do 
not relish it so well when fed without the honey. I 
have usually taken about equal quantities of each, 
adding a pint of water to J,en pounds of this mix- 
ture, and making it as hot as it will bear without 
boiling over, and skimming it. 
IS CANDIED HONEY INJURIOUS ? 
There has an idea been advanced, that candied 
honey is injurious to bees, even said to be fatal. I 
