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Date: | Tue, 23 Apr 1996 00:52:52 -0500 |
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Spring arrived here (NE Pennsylvania) this week. Crocuses, dandelions, &
forsythia blooming, willow & maple trees budding. Surviving bees stopped
taking in pollen substitute from pan in yard & are getting their own with a
vengeance. For the benefit of those who may also be trying the new "baggie
feeder" method recommended in the otherwise GREAT catalog of Brushy
Mountain Bee Farm: I tried the two gallon zip lock baggies in empty supers,
on top bars. Maybe I cut the slits too large, but had hundreds of bees
drowned; not nice after losing so many this winter. The catalog says: "You
will love this method of feeding." Wrong, but that's the way we learn.
Granted, the bees did take most of the syrup (some by standing on top of
sisters ;-). If this method is to be used, Frank offers a good idea re.
placing bags on top of queen excluder; that would make them easier to
remove. I'm going back to large inverted jars in empty supers for feeding;
that way they can be covered with insulation for those extra cold nights.
Brushy Mountain should be commended for otherwise excellent advice
throughout the catalog.
Richard C. Chapin
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