FEEDING.
Troughs--Dangers of this Method--Bottle Feeders--Cheshire's Feeding
Stage--Neighbour's Can Feeder--The "Round Feeder"--Autumn
Feeding--Spring Feeding--Uses of Precautions--Summer Feeding of
Swarms--Flour-cake--Barley-sugar or Sugar-cake--Mr. Hunter's
Recipe.
We have already spoken of the advantages consequent on feeding swarms
for a few days after they emerge, especially if the weather should
be wet, cold, or dull. It is even more important to see that in
spring and autumn, if the stocks require food, it is given to them.
With the old-fashioned skep there are difficulties in the successful
supply of nourishment. The ordinary plan used to be to take a piece
of elder-wood, and having cut it down the middle, and having removed
the pith, to stop the open ends, or manage to have a knot at each,
and then, having filled these long narrow troughs with syrup, to
insert them into the hive by the entrance hole. Several disadvantages
attend this plan. Firstly, there is the danger of spilling some of the
liquid, and so inducing visits of bees from near hives, and setting up
"robbing," with its disasters. Next, it is almost impossible, without
constant attention, to give a proper amount of food thus. Thirdly,
the bees being attracted to the floor of the hive, often become numbed
in cold weather, and perish. Fourthly, where considerable feeding is
necessary, and has to be rapidly done, it is impossible to accomplish
it by this method, except at the cost of immense trouble.
Skeps which have a flat or broad top, with a hole fitted with a cork,
can be supplied in a much better manner by one of the various kinds of
apparatus we shall now describe.
[Illustration: Fig. 66.--Bottle Feeder.]
First, the "bottle feeder" consists of a glass jar (such as pickles,
French plums, jams, marmalade, &c., are sold in), resting on a block,
square or round, as may be convenient, and having a hole cut to receive
the neck of the bottle. Over the hole is fastened a piece of perforated
zinc with very fine meshes. Over the mouth of the battle a piece of
fine net or muslin should be secured by a band round the neck, after
the syrup has been poured In. Then the block having been put over the
hole in the top of the hive, the bottle of syrup may be inverted and
stood in the hollow prepared for it. The bees will soon become aware
of the fact that food is within their reach, and poking their tongues
through the zinc and muslin, they will draw what supplies they need. As
no air can get through the syrup, the liquid will run only as fast as
it is imbibed by the bees, unless, through sun-heat, the bottle should
become so warmed as to cause the air inside to expand, and thrust out
the food faster than it can be drunk. It is easy to avoid this danger
by properly covering the bottle. Another, and still more important,
reason for protecting it is to prevent any bees from another hive
getting at it; for should they do so, robbing is very likely to ensue,
stolen sweets having a most demoralising effect on bees, as well as on
human beings; and this trouble once started, it is difficult to stop it
before all the weak stocks have been plundered and destroyed by their
stronger neighbours.
[Illustration: Fig. 67.--Cheshire's Feeding Stage.]
In order to regulate precisely the quantity of food it may be desirable
to give to a stock, Mr. Cheshire has devised, instead of the muslin
cover, a piece of vulcanite pierced with holes in a particular pattern,
and rotating round a screw in such a way that one, two, three, or any
required number of holes may be open at the same time. He also uses,
and recommends, a small shovel, in which the bottle of syrup is first
inverted. Then, when placed just over the vulcanite plate, the shovel
is quickly withdrawn without the loss of any of the liquid.
This matter of carefully controlling the quantity of food allowed,
is very important in the spring, when it is desired not only to save
impoverished stocks from dying of hunger, but to stimulate well-doing
stocks to early breeding. For, if too abundant supplies of syrup are
given, the bees, in their determination not to miss any opportunity of
storing at a time when there is no honey to be got out of doors, will
fill the middle cells which are nearest the bottle, instead of leaving
them for the queen to deposit eggs in, as she would naturally do, to
secure them the full warmth of the cluster of her subjects.
Another method of supplying food is by means of a tin bottle or can.
Mr. Neighbour describes the one invented by him for continuous supply,
as "six inches wide by six high, with five small holes at the bottom,
and closed by a sliding valve and a screw-top. The can is filled from
the top, with the valve closed, and when the screw-top is made firm,
this valve is drawn back by moving the pin in front. The can is placed
over the feeding-hole at the top of the stock hive, and the bees have
access to it by small holes. The can is on the principle of a fountain;
the screw-top rendering it air-tight, the liquid only escapes as drawn
down by the probosces of the bees. A glass side is let in, to show when
the feeder is empty. It need not be removed for refilling. The capacity
of the vessel is over a quart." The advantages of this apparatus are,
its security against robber-bees; the fact that it can be filled _in
situ_, thus avoiding all escape of warm air in cold weather, and
chilling of the brood; and the facility with which its condition can be
inspected and its store replenished. In addition, it is strong and not
likely to get out of order.
[Illustration: Fig. 68.--Can Feeder.]
[Illustration: Fig. 69.--Round Tin Feeder.]
The "round feeder" is made of zinc or earthen-ware, eight inches
across, and three deep. It is filled by a sloping aperture from the
outside. The bees come up through an opening in the crown of the hives
on to a piece of wood, under a close-fitting tin cap, which keeps in
the heat, and the bees are able to feed without the possibility of
being drowned. The outer lid has to be raised; the liquid food is then
poured into the trough, and is gradually drawn in and consumed. There
is a danger in open troughs or pans, especially of zinc, which must
not be overlooked, and that is the turning acid of the food by great
exposure to the air, and the difficulty of thorough cleanliness without
the waste of a good deal of food.
Of these various plans, the bottle is by far the cheapest, and, with
a little care, it is quite effectual. Various makers of bee-apparatus
have introduced slight modifications in their method, tending to
convenience and safety.
The two special seasons when it may be advisable to give supplies, are
the spring and autumn. When, at the end of February or early in March,
some warm days have promoted activity in the hive, and its inhabitants
are coming forth for flight after their long winter imprisonment,
and are going in search of pollen and other food, it is desirable
to examine the internal condition of affairs, so as to ascertain
whether unwonted activity means scantiness of stores, and the need of
searching outside for food. Should the supply of sealed honey be almost
exhausted, it will be necessary to give a moderate, but continuous,
quantity of syrup to avert starvation. For the reason previously
mentioned, it is well not to err on the side of too great liberality.
Let the bees have little more than enough for their probable daily
wants--say, for a strong stock, about three ounces a day.
It is also important not to fill large bottles with syrup, otherwise
there will be danger of the liquid running too freely, if a very warm
day succeed a cold night, as the air in the bottle will expand too
rapidly from the heat, and force out the syrup, to the imminent danger
of the bees.
But, it is not only starving or much impoverished stocks which may
be advantageously supplied with food early in the spring. If left to
themselves, the wise insects will not promote breeding, till they
can see their way to a constant in-flow of new nourishment for the
rearing of the young. If, then, the queen is encouraged to lay, by an
artificial supply, she will begin depositing her eggs much earlier
than she otherwise would. Moreover, if the mass of the population are
induced to remain at home, instead of going out for honey and pollen,
the warmth of the hive will be better maintained, and the developing
young will have more attendants about them. The most experienced
apiarians, therefore, strongly recommend _careful_ spring feeding;
and one point in the carefulness is the constancy of the supply once
begun, unless there is plenty of honey in the hive. In cases where this
precaution is overlooked, the hungry workers will consume hundreds of
newly-laid eggs, and will drag the young larvæ from the cells, thinking
that their coming to maturity would involve a general starvation. On
the other hand, it is necessary to see that no storage is going on in
the brood part of the combs, through too liberal feeding. In points of
this kind experience is the best teacher, and here the skilfulness of
the bee-master is shown.
Another matter of great importance in spring feeding, is to see that
the syrup supplied is not too thin, otherwise there will be danger
of dysentery. Again, it must be well boiled and properly prepared,
or what happens to be deposited in the cells will crystallise, and
become worse than useless, as the bees can only with great difficulty
consume or remove it in that state. The following is the proper method
of preparation: Take of loaf sugar 3-1/2 lbs., and boil in a quart of
water. While boiling, add a table-spoonful of vinegar, and continue
the boiling for ten minutes more. Strain the liquid, and it is ready
for use. It may, with advantage, be supplied to the bees while it is
lukewarm. The addition of the vinegar is an important point, as it
converts the cane-sugar into glucose, or grape-sugar, which is much
less liable to crystallisation.
In bad weather throughout the spring, the watchful apiarian will give
his bees some artificial food, unless they have abundant stores in
their hives.
Nor must it be forgotten that, if the production of brood is to be
stimulated, some nitrogenous food will be necessary. When crocuses and
willow-blossom are plentiful in the early spring, the bees will collect
sufficient pollen from these sources, to provide for their wants in the
above respect. But, failing a natural supply of such azotised material,
pea-meal forms a good substitute, and is readily made use of by the
workers.
In summer, it is only swarms or casts, as a rule, that ought to be in
any need of this kind of help; but, as autumn comes on, especially if
the bees have been seriously deprived of their hardly-earned supplies,
it will be necessary to make up to them some of that of which they
have been denuded. With skeps, the only guide as to the condition of
food stores is the weighing-machine. If this indicates a less total
than from twenty-five to thirty pounds, it will be advisable to supply
syrup till the requisite weight is attained. With bar-frame hives an
examination of the state of affairs is perfectly easy, and there is
no difficulty in removing combs which are quite empty, and are not
needed for the clustering of the bees. Those which are left should each
contain six or seven inches square of sealed honey, some two square
feet, as a total, being considered about the proper quantity for a
fairly strong stock to winter on.
For ascertaining the state of the hives in autumn, there should be an
inspection of them about the middle of September; and, if necessary,
the feeding should then be begun. It may be continued through October,
but not later; otherwise there are dangers to be incurred. The first
is, lest the evaporation of a certain amount of water from the stored
syrup should not take place, and consequently, being left unsealed in
the cells, it should ferment, and produce dysentery among the bees.
The second is, lest there should not be sufficient warmth in the hive
for the elaboration of the wax needed for sealing the filled cells;
in which case, also, dysentery is likely to occur, when the immatured
syrup is consumed.
Syrup given in autumn must be thicker than that supplied in spring,
and should be made of five pounds of sugar to one quart of water,
a table-spoonful of vinegar being added, and the mixture well, but
carefully, boiled.
Sometimes, when bee-keepers have neglected the feeding of their stocks
till late in autumn, they try to atone for their remissness by giving
a supply of flour-cake--a baked mixture of sugar and pea-meal--on the
top of the frames. This practice is not advisable, as the nitrogenous
food is almost certain to stimulate breeding; and if this happens when
the temperature is too low for the development of eggs and larvæ, great
mischief may be done. The danger from this source will be very much in
proportion to the weakness of the stock.
If proper attention has been given to the bees in autumn, they
should be left quite undisturbed during the winter; for each time of
excitement causes a considerable consumption of honey, to make up
for the exertion to which the insects have been aroused. There is,
also, the risk of chilling the hive, and lowering the temperature to
a point fatal to many of its inhabitants. If, however, it becomes
known to the bee-keeper that any stock is in a starving condition, no
liquid food must be given, but barley-sugar, or sugar-cake, may be
laid on the frames. One evil of the former of these is, that it is apt
to deliquesce faster than the bees can consume it, and running down
the combs, makes a mess; while, if supplied too sparingly, it will
not afford enough nourishment to the whole population to avert their
starving. To obviate these dangers, it has been recommended to let it
liquefy to a condition of toughness, and then, having put it into a
bottle tied over the mouth with close canvas, to supply it in the same
way as syrup.
Mr. Hunter gives the following directions for making sugar-cake, of a
kind superior to barley-sugar of the shops for bee-feeding purposes:--
"Break up three pounds of loaf-sugar, place it in a saucepan or
preserving-pan and pour half a pint of cold water upon it and half a
wine-glass of vinegar. These are all the ingredients required. Prepare
a fire in a grate, the top bar of which will let down in a similar
way to that in an ordinary kitchen grate, taking care, however, that,
at the commencement of the operation, the bar is up in its place, and
the grate full to the top with glowing cinders or wood embers, so that
a great heat may be obtained without any flame. Place upon the fire
the saucepan containing the sugar, and stir it without ceasing. In
a few minutes it will begin to assume the character of dirty broth,
which will have anything but a nice appearance, but presently a thick
scum will rise, and the mass will try to boil over. As soon as this
is observed the saucepan should be removed from the fire, until the
ingredients have cooled a little, when it should be set on the grate
again, in such a way that only a small part of it is over the fire.
The boiling will then go on on the exposed side, and as the ebullition
takes place the scum will be forced to the side not over the fire,
whence it may easily be removed with a spoon. Thus, the saucepan is
held in the left hand, the spoon in the right, and the saucepan being
on the left-hand side of the grate, with its right side exposed to
the action of the fire, the scum will retreat to the left or cooler
side, and will be in the handiest position for removal, as will be
evident in a few minutes to any one trying it. After a quarter of an
hour of this treatment the mixture will have become in a great degree
clarified, when it should be removed from the fire while the top bar
of the grate is let down, so as to permit of its nearer approach to a
greater heat. Should there be any irregularity of the fire, it should
now be corrected, but flame should be prevented, as the mixture, having
parted with its water, will be liable to take fire if brought into
contact with flame. It will be well here to remark that so long as the
scum remains on the syrup there was a tendency in the whole to boil
over, since the water evolved in the form of steam while the boiling
was going on, accumulating in a body, would lift the scum above the
saucepan to enable it to escape, but when the scum was _gone_ the water
would be evolved in bubbles of steam, which would _crackle_ but not
boil over unless a very intense heat were applied. The duration of the
boiling of the clarified syrup, before it becomes liquid barley-sugar,
will depend upon the amount of heat and the consequent evolution of
water to which it is subjected; but trials may from time to time be
made by dropping a little on some cold surfaces, to see if it becomes
brittle, and when that state is arrived at it is done. Pour it into a
tin dish, set it in a dry cool place until it becomes hard, and then',
by striking the tin on its under side, the whole of the barley-sugar
will be splintered into fragments, when it may be placed in bottles and
corked up for use as required."
We have thought it advisable to quote these directions _in extenso_, as
the feeding material thus made is cheaper--by about half the cost--than
what is bought in shops, and being, moreover, not twisted like ordinary
barley-sugar, it can more conveniently be placed on the top of frames,
or over the feeding-hole of a skep.
The deliquescence of solid sugar-food is a source of some trouble. It
may, in part, be obviated by laying the cake on coarse canvas, which
will keep pieces from falling between the combs, and will help to delay
liquid drops till the bees can consume them. But the most effectual
plan to be rid of all these inconveniences, is to see to the proper
amount of food being stored in the hives by the end of October.