252 WINTERING 
successful flight, dying upon the snow. In the packing cases 
this trouble is avoided as the bees do not feel the heat of the sun 
until the air is sufficiently warm to permit a safe return. Of 
course there will always be some old bees which will die outside 
after every day warm enough for a flight. 
Cellar Wintering.—('ellar wintering is the most generally 
a 
Fie. 117.—The packing boxes may be utilized for chicken coops in summer. 
practised plan by extensive honey producers of the northeastern 
States. Over large areas there are long periods that the bees 
are unable to fly from early December until the last of February 
or even March. It is the usual practice to put the bees into the 
cellar in this climate. The saving in stores will be considerable. 
In general it is estimated that not more than twelve to fifteen 
pounds of honey will be consumed by a colony in the cellar, 
though as much more should be present in the hive to insure a 
