§ XX. BEE-FEEDERS.
It has long been acknowledged that the best mode of feeding bees is through an opening at the top of the stock hive, as bees can thus take the food without coming abroad. Another important feature is the cleanliness with which liberal feeding can be accomplished; and few operations require more care than this does. If liquid sweet is left hanging about the hive it tempts robber bees, and when once the bees of an apiary have had a taste, there is no knowing where their depredations will stop. Even if no hives be completely destroyed, weakness from loss of numbers will be the portion of most, if not of all, the hives in the garden. The morals of our favourites are here a good deal at fault, for the stronger hives, when their inordinate passion is thus stirred up by the carelessness or want of knowledge of the bee-keeper, attack and prey upon the weaker ones. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed"—and "prevention is better than cure."
The "Bottle Feeder," as shown in the annexed figure, consists of a round or flat bottle placed in an inverted position over the feed-hole of the stock hive, and resting in a circular block, below which is a piece of perforated zinc. The following directions will show how it is to be employed: Fill the bottle with liquid food; apply the net, affixed by an india-rubber band, over the mouth; place the block over the hole of the stock hive, and invert the bottle, the neck resting within the hole in the block: the bees will put their tongues through the perforations, and imbibe the food, thus causing the bottle to act on the principle of a fountain. The bottle being glass, it is easy to see when the food is consumed. The piece of perforated zinc is for the purpose of preventing the bees from clinging to the net, or escaping from the hive when the bottle is taken away for the purpose of refilling.
Specially prepared pieces of vulcanite plate, pierced with holes in such manner as to give complete regulation to the supply of food, are much recommended by some apiarians. No net is then required, but as the plate is to be a fixture on the crown-board, the bottle should be inverted over a small shovel or some thin metal plate, which may then be withdrawn, leaving it standing upon the vulcanite. Occasional examination of the plate is however requisite, as the bees will sometimes stop up the holes with their propolis. We strongly recommend closely covering up this feeder with one of the middle-sized bell glasses, should the regular hive cover not be sufficiently tight. When bees are not kept in a bee-house this is particularly needful.
The "Can Feeder" is our next form of an apparatus for this purpose. Much has been said about stimulating feeding—that is, administering food in such a way that there shall always be liquid sweets within the reach of the bees, and that they shall continuously be able to imbibe a little. In order to meet this requirement we have constructed a new feeder, which consists of a tin bottle or can, 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. This 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. Its difference in form from the above renders it less liable to attack from robber bees.
Our "Round Feeder" is made of zinc or earthenware, eight inches across and three deep. The projection outside is a receptacle for pouring in the food. The bees gain access to the feeder through a round hole, which is placed either at the centre or nearer one side, whichever may best suit the openings on the top of the stock hive; it is in fact a tube which fits over the feed-hole in the crown-board, thus allowing the bees to rise through it above the surface of the liquid. A circular piece of glass, cut so as to fit into a groove, covers the feeder all over and prevents the bees escaping, whilst it retains the warmth within the hive, and affords opportunity for inspecting the bees when feeding. The feeders were originally made only of zinc; but some bee-keepers advised the use of earthenware, and a few have been thus made to meet the wishes of those who give the preference to that material.
When the bees are fed from above in this manner, the feeder is kept at a warm temperature by the heat of the hive. In common hives cottagers feed the bees by pushing under the hive thin slips of wood scooped out, into which the food is poured. This plan of feeding can only be had recourse to at night, and the pieces of wood must be removed in the morning. By feeding at the top of the stock hive any interruption of the bees is avoided. For further instructions on this head, see the directions given for using the bottle feeder. Round feeders are of course entirely safe from robber attacks, being protected by the regular hive cover.
A variation upon this is "The New Round Feeder," which obtained a prize at the 1875 Crystal Palace Bee Show. It is made of wood, and holds more than two pounds of liquid food, which must be poured into the outer trough. The bees ascend through the centre as in the last case, and passing over the innermost ridge, which is rounded, they reach the inner trough, at which they imbibe the food without risk of drowning, as the sides are too contracted. A piece of window glass covers the top. The feeder is nearly ten inches in diameter.