; [ 30 1 
in Winter, and Wafps and Robbing-bees in Aus 
‘etn, Oath 
When the Bees have wrought. a Week in the 
Spring, the better Hives may have three or four 
Notches in the Door open, and by degrees more, 
until they be full, and then you may openthem en- 
tirely, by taking away the Grates until Autumn ; 
but you muft be fure to fet them early to the old 
Stocks, that have over-fwarmed, asalfo to the poor 
Swarms, and ina dry Year fooner than in a motft; 
for Wafps are then more numerous and early, and 
the Robbing-bees finding little abroadto bufythem- _ ; 
felves about, will-be feeking to plunder poor and 
weak Stocks betimes. 
It cannot with any great Certainty be determined 
what Quantity of Honey will ferve an Hive of Bees 
all the Winter, becaufe of the Uncertainty of their 
Numbers; :and even if this were known, the for- 
wardnefs or backwardnefs of the Spring, may 
require different Quantities of Honey tor the fame 
Hive 5 but if the Stocks be weak in Autumn which 
you intend to preferve (tho’ it is not advifeable to — 
let any weak Stocks continue) or if in the Spring, 
by bad Weather, and Increafe of Numbers, they 
want Food, you mutt give it them in the following 
manner. | | : 
Take three or four Pounds of Honey, and one 
Quart of Water, boil them together, and let the 
Mixture ftand till ic be cold 5» put fome of this into 
a Place that will, hold about a Pound, covering it 
with pieces of white Paper ; flide the Plate into the 
Hive, by gently lifting up the Edge thereof in the 
Evening, and repeat this every Day till, you have 
given them fufficient 5. fo foon as they have ufed the 
Honey, they will drag the Papers out of the Hive ; 
thefe Papers are neceflary for the Bees to ftand and 
work on, for they are fo greedy of Honey, that they 
| would 
