16 : Farmers’ Bulletin 1216. 
put bees into. winter quarters outdoors on less than 45 pounds of 
stores, for while a considerable amount of nectar may come in dur- 
ing the early spring, occasionally this does not happen in this region, 
and it is necessary that the beekeeper leave the amount specified in 
order to insure the proper building up of the colony after March 1. 
MAY 2/ 
APRIL JL 
Fic. 6.—Map of buckwheat region showing average date of last killing frost in spring. 
From these data the beekeeper determines the time to unpack colonies of bees wintered 
outdoors and estimates the probable time of the beginning of nectar secretion from the 
clovors. 
It is much safer to leave the entire amount all winter than it is to 
give more before the time of unpacking in May. 
SPRING CARE. 
If the bees have been wintered in a cellar in single hive-bodies, 
as is customary, they should be given the second hive-body contain- 
ing the additional honey and room for brood-rearing not more 
than four weeks after their removal from the cellar. This should 
usually be given about May 1. If the lower hive-body has scant 
stores, the supply of honey should be given as soon as the bees are 
put out of the cellar. Unless the stores are needed, the cover of the 
hive should not be removed until the second story is added about 
May 1, since the bees will not be able at this time to seal the cover 
of the hive. Entrances to the hives should be contracted on removal 
from the cellar and no further spring manipulation is needed or 
desirable at least until May 20. In unusually favorable seasons it 
may be desirable to add a third hive-body to hold the honey from 
