of BEES for
OUTDOOR WINTERING
Farmers' Bulletin 1012
United States Department of Agriculture
ONE OF THE MOST VITAL parts of the beekeeper'swork is the preparation of bees for outdoorwintering. No other phase of beekeeping has sodirect an influence on the honey crop of the followingseason.
The apiary should be located in a protected placeand the colonies should not be moved at the time ofpacking. Directions are given in this bulletin for theproper arrangement of the apiary to prevent confusiondue to the shifting of hives.
The amount and character of the packing materialsand the most economical type of packing casesare discussed.
A schedule of dates for packing and unpacking thehives is presented for all parts of the United States,and the amount and character of winter stores areindicated.
It is important that none of the factors of goodwintering be omitted, and several tests are given sothat the beekeeper may determine whether his beesare wintering properly.
Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology
L. O. HOWARD, Chief
Washington, D. C. September, 1918
THE PREPARATION OF BEES FOR OUTDOOR WINTERING.
E. F. Phillips, Apiculturist, and
George S. Demuth, Apicultural Assistant.
CONTENTS.
| Page. | |
| The essentials to success | 3 |
| Necessity for strong colonies in the fall | 4 |
| Arrangement of the apiary | 4 |
| Insulation of the hive | 6 |
| Arrangement within the hive | 11 |
| Winter schedule | 14 |
| Winter stores | 18 |
| All the factors of good wintering are needed | 19 |
| Measures of success in wintering | 20 |
NO PROBLEM confronting the beekeeper in most parts of theUnited States is of more importance than the proper winteringof bees, yet it is one which is sadly neglected. It is urged that beforeattempting to make packing cases fo