BEEKEEPING IN THE SOUTH 



47 



creased numbers, under northern winter protection, who shall 

 say that they are not right? 



The winter problem has been long considered from the tem- 

 perature standpoint only. In this case the rule of temperature 

 alone does not apply always. Gauged only by temperatures, 

 the packing of bees in winter cases would be proper in most 

 parts of this belt. Note that the U. S. Weather Bureau reports 

 that a temperature of zero has been recorded as far south as 

 Raleigh, North Carolina, Flomaton, Alabama, Natchez, Missis- 

 sippi, Natchitoches, Louisiana, Waco and El Paso, Texas. 



However, the average beekeeper in this region, when heavy 

 protection is given against his normal winter temperatures, 

 finds his colonies at swarming strength several weeks before they 

 would be otherwise, and too strong a number of weeks before 

 he has available a surplus source of nectar. Consequently, heavy 

 winter protection for this belt is a mooted question. 



"^'.-l '* ,^^ 



Fig. l.S. It is a common practice to winter the bees with supers on the hives 

 to guard against moths. 



