150 BEEKEEPING 



should mean, that the bees live through 

 with but little loss of individuals and in a 

 strong healthy condition so that they will 

 start promptly to rear the young bees for 

 the next honey harvest. It is understood, 

 of course, that all of the old bees that win- 

 ter over die before the next active field 

 season arrives. They serve only to start 

 the new generation, but unless they are 

 strong in numbers as well as in body they 

 will fail in this very important function. 



The subject of proper wintering has 

 perhaps produced as much discussion as 

 any other one phase of beekeeping — and 

 that is stating the case about as strongly 

 as possible, for beekeepers are prone to 

 discuss their troubles and success with all 

 the avidity of an invalid at a health resort. 



Through all of this historic discussion 

 run a great many references to the "win- 

 ter sleep" of the bees. They are spoken 

 of as animals which become dormant in 

 the cold season and pass into a hibernat- 

 ing state similar to that enjoyed by the 



