The Care of Bees in Winter 
345 
exceptions to these statements, however, since buckwheat 
honey is satisfactory. Most honeys from tree sources are 
not so good as those from smaller plants because of the higher 
gum content. Honey-dew honey should not be left in the 
hives for winter stores, but if some is present the danger may 
be reduced by feeding ten pounds or more of sugar syrup 
after brood-rearing ceases. In case the colony is found to 
be short of stores a syrup made of granulated sugar may be 
fed. If the feeding is done early, one part of sugar to one 
part of water (by measure) is a proper proportion, but for 
later feeding one part of water to two and one-half parts of 
sugar is preferable. To the latter syrup, add one teaspoonful 
of tartaric acid to fifteen or twenty pounds of sugar while 
it is being heated to change the cane sugar to invert sugar. 
Heating should be continued until every crystal is dissolved. 
Late feeding should be done rapidly. The use of candy 
for colonies which exhaust their stores in winter should be 
considered as an emergency treatment and nothing but 
granulated sugar should be used in making the candy. Be¬ 
fore cold weather arrives each colony to be wintered out of 
doors should have in the combs thirty pounds of honey and 
preferably more. 
Cause and effects of humidity in the hive. 
In winter, especially in a cold or poorly ventilated cellar, 
the atmosphere in the hive may become so laden with 
water vapor that water will condense on the cover, combs 
and sides of the hive, drop to the bottom board and even 
run out the entrance. The source of this moisture is, of 
course, the food of the bees. Honey is a carbohydrate, and 
when consumed ultimately becomes carbon dioxid and water, 
one gallon of honey producing approximately one gallon 
of water. Unless the moisture is carried off in the form of 
vapor by convection currents in the atmosphere, it will 
be condensed in the hive, for bees do not ventilate the hive 
by fanning when clustered. 
The condensation of water may be prevented by raising 
