Beekeeping 
240 
-^Closing the hive. 
In closing a hive, after the frames are replaced and spaced 
properly, the cover should be put on in such a way as to 
crush no bees. If necessary the bees may be driven down 
by the use of smoke, but if bees are on the top edges of the 
hive, the cover may be slid on from the end or side so that 
none will be crushed. 
OCCASIONAL MANIPULATIONS 
In the discussions which follow, manipulations will be 
described which may be useful at almost any time or at 
different times in the season but which are not part of the 
regular work of most apiaries. The plan followed in this 
book is to give the various manipulations in the order in 
which they are used during the season. The manipulations 
discussed under this heading are most frequently useful in 
the spring. 
Feeding. 
To stimulate brood-rearing or to provide stores in the 
spring, in preparing colonies for winter and at other times 
during a shortage of stores, it may be necessary to feed the 
bees. Obviously, it is desirable to allow the bees to keep 
sufficient honey and if this can be done it is always prefer¬ 
able to feeding. No better stimulation to heavy breeding 
in the spring can be found than adequate protection and an 
abundance of stores, but a large amount of food is needed 
at this season and the beekeeper should feed if he finds that 
he has failed to leave enough. In small hives, the giving of 
additional stores in the spring is usually desirable, either 
in the form of combs of honey or as a syrup. 
The feeding of sugar syrup to produce comb-honey has 
of course been tried and some beekeepers have believed that 
the product is honey. This is not the case and the fraud 
may readily be detected. Fortunately, even at the lowest 
prices of granulated sugar, the sections actually cost the 
