Beekeeping in Kansas. 11 



in the spring than in the fall. In those hives protected by a windbreak the 

 one-story hive in the winter of 1917-18 gained 4,538, and only 313 during the 

 open winter. The two-story hive protected by the windbreak gained 13,346 

 during the severe winter, while a hive similarly placed gained only 5,936 during 

 the open winter. 



The figures given above show very conclusively three things: First, that 

 a windbreak is of great value in properly protecting bees for the winter; 

 second, that the open winter causes a greater loss in the bees than does a 

 severe winter; and third, it shows above all things that packing is most 

 essential to good wintering conditions, and proves clearly that winter pro- 

 tection is necessary in order to have a strong colony of bees ready for the 

 nectar flow in the spring. 



METHODS FOR WINTERING BEES. 



There are several essentials to good wintering, among which the most im- 

 portant are: First, to have plenty of young bees in the hive in the fall of 

 the year; second, to have plenty of stores; third, to have the bees protected 

 by a good windbreak ; fourth, to have the hive well packed with an insulating 

 material; and fifth, to have plenty of room for spring brood rearing. If these 

 essentials are attended to the colony should winter in good shape to be ready 

 to take an active part in spring brood rearing, and to insure a good, strong 

 colony of bees to take advantage of the nectar flow when it starts. The 

 necessity of having a large number of bees is that they will be able to main- 

 tain the proper temperature of the hive by muscular exertion during the 

 winter and yet have enough energy in the spring to take up the spring duties 

 in the colony. In order to have a large number of young bees in the hive, 

 one of the best ways to be certain of this is to requeen during the month of 

 August with a young queen. Such a queen will be more apt to raise a lot 

 of young bees than an older queen, and another thing in her favor is that 

 she will be less likely to swarm during the following season. 



The proper amount of stores per colony for Kansas is about thirty-five to 

 forty pounds. Sufficient stores should be left to feed the colony until the 

 nectar flow actually starts in the spring. It is not enough just to leave suffi- 

 cient honey to feed them until the maples and elms bloom in the spring, be- 

 cause this time is very apt to be followed by a period of bad weather or a 

 dearth in honey, and although a, colony may be strong at this time, a short- 

 age of stores may cause their death before the real nectar flow begins. If at 

 the time of putting colonies into winter they do not have a sufficient amount 

 of stores they should be fed sugar syrup made at the rate of two parts of 

 sugar to one of water, by measure. Enough of this sugar syrup should be fed 

 to bring their stores to the required amount. 



For a protection from the wind a good hedge or some shrubs will furnish 

 the ideal conditions. A solid windbreak is to be avoided at all times. If 

 the bees are placed near a solid board fence or a solid board windbreak, 

 better results will be obtained if every other board is removed. When a solid 

 windbreak is used a current of air passes over its top and then down directly 

 to the hive. 



The single-walled hives which are commonly used do not give sufficient 

 protection from the cold, and these should be packed with some insulating 



