SONEYBEBS AND HONEY PRODUCTION. 59 



CONDITIONS AND PROSPECTS FOR 1918. 



The increase in number of colonies during the season over 

 and above losses is 11.5 per cent, which will allow for an 

 average winter loss without a material reduction of numbers 

 below that of 1917. The condition of colonies at the begin- 

 ning of winter was reported as 93.2 of normal, only slightly 

 below the high condition of 95.5 in 1916, and in only four 

 States did it fall below 90, although one of these is the impor- 

 tant honey-producing State of Texas, where extreme and 

 long-continued conditions of drought reduced the condition 

 to 81. 



The supply of honey in the hives on November 1 was 

 generally ample for ordinary winter requirements, but the 

 severe winter in the central and eastern States threatens 

 heavy losses and weak condition of a large proportion of the 

 sm-viving colonies in the spring of 1918. 



The character of the season controls the yield in a broad 

 sense, but a material increase in production of honey over 

 what may otherwise be expected might be reahzed if bee- 

 keepers generally could be aroused to the importance of the 

 subject and would make special effort by giving attention 

 to the bees in the fall and early spriag to see that their 

 stores are ample, by feeding if any shortage exists, by pro- 

 tecting them so far as possible from the inclement winds and 

 freezing temperatures of winter and early spring, by supply- 

 ing ample room in the brood chamber for the expanding brood 

 (not so early, however, as to lead to harm from undue expos- 

 ure), by giving plenty of space at the proper time for storing 

 surplus, and by the production of extracted honey. This 

 last expedient, besides permitting a marked increase in 

 production by most beekeepers and in most seasons over 

 that of comb honey, by lessening the amount of comb build- 

 ing and avoiding heavy swarming during the season of sur- 

 plus production, also involves much less labor in caring for 

 the bees. 



The May 1, 1918, report, received just as this buUetin goes 

 to press, shows that the losses of colonies of bees during the 

 past winter have been, for the United States as a whole, 18.7 

 per cent of the total number; in other words, almost one out 

 of every five colonies has perished. As the reports to the 



