412 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Winter Loss. 

 For the last three years the percentage of colonies lost during 

 the winter has varied. In the inspector's third annual report, 

 it was mentioned that the winter of 1911-12 was pronounced by 

 all beekeepers as the most disastrous one in a good many years, 

 when approximately 40 per cent of all colonies succumbed. 

 During the winter of 1912-13, the loss was approximately 17 

 per cent. During the past winter, there was again a heavy loss, 

 although not as severe as previously. Among 1,729 apiaries in 

 which 4,210 colonies were put into winter quarters, but 3,129 

 survived. This was a loss during last winter of approximately 

 1,081 colonies, or 25 per cent. These figures only point to the 

 decided need for mere careful wintering methods. It is en- 

 tirely unnecessary that one-fourth of the bees of Massachusetts, 

 for instance, should succumb in the winter. In many instances 

 these losses have been due to negligence, and the writer in his 

 last report predicted that fall conditions, which had caused an 

 unusual consumption of honey and stores, might "result in 

 unsuccessful wintering, or starvation" during the winter. Ap- 

 parently the prediction was fulfilled to the extent that one- 

 fourth of IMassachusetts apiary stock succumbed. 



Table 2. — Comparison of Winter Losses. 



I In 756 apiaries. 



2 In 729 apiaries. 



Other Details of the Season. 

 The number of 729 apiaries in the above-mentioned winter 

 loss figures does not mean that this number alone were under 

 the supervision of the inspector. A total of 1,641 apiaries had 

 attention. These comprise 4,372 colonies. The following table 

 will show the details and special features of the inspection: — 



