106 DADANT SYSTEM OF BEEKEEPING 



ing by any one. In wintering, perhaps more than in any other 

 part of the management of the apiary, much depends upon loca- 

 tion. Let each man judge of this for himself. 



Outer winter cases of different models have been recom- 

 mended. Some are made to contain 4 colonies; others 3, others 

 still only one. If our opinion is desired, we gladly recommend 

 the 2-colony winter case which does not require the moving of 

 the hives of bees for winter. Two hives may be kept all summer 

 in close proximity to each other; so that they may be incased 

 together without trouble. Whenever we move any hives of bees 

 for winter, we cause more or less of what is called "drifting." 

 Drifting is the loss of direction by some of the bees, because 

 of a disturbance. Whenever some of the colonies are moved, 

 there is drifting. The strongest colonies then gain the greater 

 number of the drifting bees, because they make a greater call, 

 a more discernible noise, which draws the lost bees. So the weak 

 colonies are weakened and the strong colonies strengthened 

 by the "drifting." Very expert beekeepers, with large practice 

 in the use of the packing cases, have acknowledged to us that 

 drifting was one of the main drawbacks of that method. 



If the packing of colonies, singly, in thick packing boxes, 

 in a way that they could not at all feel the cold of winter, was 

 not so expensixe, it would be the ideal way of wintering bees, 

 even in very cold regions. We have not adopted this method 

 because of the great expense it entails. Our method has been 

 sufficient and although we have lost heavily in a few abnormal 

 winters, we succeed quite regularly. Our losses are not over 

 4 or 5 per cent, one year with another. 



