> the syrup properly. Wouldn't have been easy for them to ripen syrup in 
> October this year. Too cold.

We feed right up to November up here in the Great White North with no ill 
effects.  Maybe it is drier here.

I like to give them a last shot in October to fill in the area formerly 
occupied by brood.

Something to consider for those who are new to feeding is that adding ten 
pounds to hive weight in fall increases the feed available by that amount. 
As much as 80 or so pounds is inedible.  It is hive parts, bees, pollen, 
etc.  The next forty or so pounds go into outer combs, and only after that 
does the feed go where it is needed -- overhead.

So what I am saying is that the last few pounds are very important to 
prevent the bees coming up too soon and having the cluster split or move to 
one side and starving in a late cold snap.

Old-timers like us know this, but newbees often find out the hard way --  
several times. 

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