CHAPTER IX.
Manner of feeding weak Stocks, and the time most appropriate for this operation.
Autumnand Spring are the most proper seasons for supplying weak stocks with food. Bees ought never to be fed during the winter, as food given at that time, not only causes disease, but induces them to go out of their hives, when many of them perish from cold.
Food should be administered only at night, and the sooner after sunset the better; the vessel in which it is given ought to be carefully removed by sunrise the next morning, or robbers will be attracted to the hive by the smell of the honeyand far more injury be sustained from them, than the benefit arising to the Bees, from the food given. In feeding, therefore, it will be necessary to observe the greatest neatness. In Autumn, Bees should be fed copiously, those hives containing less than fifteen pounds of honey must be made up to that weight by feeding; the most effectual method I have been able to devise is to excavate a board of four or five inches in thickness, so as to allow a soup plate, or pewter dish to fit into it without rising above its level; this dish may be filled with honey, and covered with pieces of paper to prevent the Bees from being drowned, it may then be placed under the hive at sunset, and a napkin tied round the bottom of it, to prevent any of the Bees from making their escape; in this manner three or four pounds of honey may be given at one time, so that twice feeding, it is supposed will be sufficient for any hive, for if more than this quantity is wanted, the stock must be joined to another as directed in Chapter VIII. Should the honey be very thick,a small quantity of warm water may be added to it, in the proportion of half a pint to three pounds of honey, observing to mix them well together.
If the honey be much candied it maybe placed over a fire for a few minutes till it becomes liquid—another plan of feeding is to prepare a rim of straw, or a wooden hoop, the exact size of the hive, and four inches deep, within which place the dish of honey, and put the hive over it, making the union secure with a napkin.
In the Spring, Bees should be fed sparingly, three or four ounces of honey twice in the week, will be found amply sufficient; the easiest method of giving these small quantities is by a vessel of tin, upon the same principle as a bird's fountain, holding about a pound or a pound and half (seefig. 9.) the projecting trough or mouth, must be put in at the entrance of the hive, it is one inch and three quarters wide, and three inches and a half long, covered with a perforated tin: this vessel being filled with honey, has only to be placed in the hive at night, and removed in themorning, the feeder itself effectually stopping up the entrance of the hive.
Some persons feed their Bees at the top of the hive, but it is much too tedious and sparing a way, in my opinion for Autumn feeding, in the Spring it does very well. This feeder is of wood with a cover of glass, it has a hole through its centre, corresponding with one at the top of the hive, which enables the Bees to pass into it, and take the honey—I believe it was invented by Wildman.