BEEKEEPING IN THE SOUTH 



75 



Winter Losses. 



While winter losses in this region are frequently heavy, when 

 an unusual winter occurs, it is doubtful if beekeepers of this 

 region will ever adopt northern methods of winter protection. 

 This is because of the discrepancy in the time between the peak 

 of strength of the colonies of bees and the beginning of the main 

 honey flow through most of this belt. In the North there is 

 every reason for packing bees, so as to reach the peak of brood 

 rearing before the main honey flow is in progress. There is as 

 yet but little reason for using methods of wintering which will 

 increase the number of bees in a colony in parts of the South, 

 at the season when there is no immediate need for bees and no 

 way to use them. Low winter temperatures are not unusual here 

 and snow often falls in winter in much of this entire region. 

 However, it seldom remains on the ground for long and there 

 is seldom a stretch of many days when bees may not fly, accord- 



Fig. 32. A Virginia clover location. 



