The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-12-10
Protect the Bees.
Editor of The Florida Agriculturist:

UAAC OCCos
Editor of The Florida Agricuturist:
The seasons work has now closed
and the little pets are nicely hugged
together to keep warm, and to rest,
for it is all they ever seem to get or
even require. There is nothing to be
found for them to gather, and all the
long, dreary winter weather they lie
seemingly dormant, awaiting the re-
turn of their harvest. However, in
this climate there are but few days
in which bees do not fly during the
winter. Now is the time to inspect
every hive, that the bee keeper may
know the exact condition of every
colony in the apiary If there be
weak swarm it should receive imme.
diate care. either by uniting it with
another or feeding it. The past sea-
son has not been as favorable as we
could have wished for; the spring
opened unusually fine and the little
pets hardly seemed satisfied with the
ten hour system, they put in full
time-one would hardly suppose that
they took time to eat their dinner.
But alas, the hour of sorrow came,
the drouth put in its sad appearance.
1t continued for some time and
nearly closed their labors. There was
little or nothing tor them to gather;
there was little or no honey dew, as
is usually the case in these parts
when the weather is warm and dry.
About the first of August the rain
began to come, moderately, and bees
began to increase rapidly, and the
first OF September they commenced
to swarm and continued until about
the middle OF the month. Those
swarms, when very large, we gave
frames. of honey and brood from
other hives, making them number
one swarms. There are still weak
swarms to be found at this season of
the year in almost every apiary. and
with a little care and attention would
make good swarms for the coming
year. First ascertain their condition
and if they need food give it to them.
FEEDING BEES. .i't
There are several ways for feeding
All OF them are simple and practi;,
cally good. If honey is not at hand
feed sugar; take good coffee sugar,
five pounds of sugar to three quarts
OF water, put it in kettle and bring
to a boil, and skim. When cold it is
fit for use.
PLAN FOR FEEDING.
If we have but little time and
want to get through in a hurry, we
have a large dish pan to put the tood
in. We take a frame of empty
comb and, with a dipper, fill the
comb full by holding it up a little
and letting it drop into the cells. we
turn it over and fill the other side.
We can, in few minutes, fill several
frames, sufficient to carry them
through the winter without any fur
ther trouble.
ANOTHER PLAN.
Many are using the box hive and
have no control of their combs. In
this case fill two quart fruit can, or
any other vessel holding from pint
to a gallon, fill it and tie thick cot
ton cloth over it, and turn the bot
tom side up, making hole through
the top of the hive, one inch will DO,
smaller will answer, lay on two strips
of wood one.fourth OF an inch thick
to let the jar containing the food rest
upon. This will allow the bees to
have free access to the full size OF
the jar of food. Allowing a good
many bees to be taking up the food
as fast as possible, they will tre'
quently empty from one to two
quarts in one night.
This plan OF feeding almost any
little boy or girl can follow out with
out any difficulty. A small box
should be placed over the food to
prevent other bees from entering it,
also to keep dry from storms, etc.
BEES RoBBING EACH OTHER.
The honey bee is one of the great
est thieves that ever lived. 1t mat
ters not as TO their amount OF stores,
unless it is the more they have the
more they want. Gin this respect
thew favor the human family. Al
coon "a honey fails and there is moth