Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-05-21
Facts for Our Farmers.

SCISHtlstS ana 10 interest ana instruct
the general observer. Last season
mentioned the danger of breeding up
to full strngth too early, thus endan-
gering the colonies by starvation. I'M
less costly feeding is resorted to. A
full colony will consume a great
amount of stores within a short time
when the combs are full of brood.
Feeding should be done about six
weeks or more before the certain
honey flow. Never feed up for tenn
porary and uncertain flows. 1t is very
necessary to give plenty of time for
stimulative feeding, especially if the
weather is to be cool and damp, for
the reason that the bees cannot spread
! over much space when the weather is
cold without lowering the temperature
to point injurious; but by giving
plenty of time to build up, there is no
crowding the hives with brood all at
once, to be reared by old and worn
out bees. That is, the bees will be
all worn out before they have finished
the job of caring for the young bees.
By the gradual method a supply of
young bees can be reared to take the
place of the old bees as they die out;
and when the honey flows come the
hives will be full of young, strong
bees, which can stand the cool and
damp weather of spring.
To accomplish this several methods
may be pursued. One good way is to
fill number of jars-frrit jars are
goodwill syrup honey or syrup
made from white sugar, then tie over
the mouth of each jar a piece of bur
lap or other loosely woven cloth, in
vert the jars and tie them on stakes
or fenceposts near the hives. The
bees will suck out all the syrup. When
feeding for the first time only feed
for few hours, then skip day, after
which the feeding can be continued
much longer; and as the weather gets
warmer the bees should be fed quite
regularly. But when the hives get full
of brood, great care will be necessary
/ to keep the supplies up or you may
have the modification of seeing your
bees dragging brood from the hive,
and soon become weaker than it was
! before the feeding began.
If the weather should not permit of
stimulative feeding from jars outside.
then it will be well to place the syrup
or bee candy at the bottom of the hive.
This can be done by placing a super
underneath the brood chamber and
putting the feed where bees can get
in the syrup. Bee candy is one of the
most convenient things to feed bees.
1t can be made by stirring white sugar
! in honey until thick cake is made
This candy can be placed in the super
below the brood or can be put above
the brood frames; but if so placed.
select very warm day, and after
placing the candy thoroughly repack
so that the bees may not be the worse.
This method should not be resorted 70
unless the weather has become set
tied, with no very cold weather to
| follow.
1t is good time to repair and put
up fence around the apiary, to level
and sand the ground, and to kill the
weeds. When warm weather is at
hand it is not altogether comfortable
to be hanlmering and working near
the hives. The ground is soft now
and the weather cool, so there is no
excuse for waiting until warm wealth
err. Other repairing should also be
! done, and hives ordered and put up
while there is time during the rainy
days in early spring. If there is no
brook near the apiary, water should be
supplied for the bees. To force the
bees T. travel miles for water is a
waste of time and energy.