The Care of Bees in Winter 



357 



reach a point where brood-rearing may begin, and this with 

 the increased activity causes excessive feeding and still 

 greater accumulation of feces. It is therefore quite plain 

 that a good food free from gums is of primary importance 



Fig. 145. — Diagram showing the effects of an accumulation of feces. The 

 heavy line represents the temperature of the cellar, the lighter ones 

 those inside the clusters. The colony which died in December was on 

 honey-dew stores and the one which lived through the winter was on 

 honey stores. Brood-rearing occurred in the honey-dew colony during 

 November and it also suffered from dysentery. 



in successful wintering. If the bees are free to fly at fre- 

 quent intervals the inferior food will do less harm and bees 

 may even winter on honey-dew honey if there are no long 

 periods of confinement. It is, however, doubtful whether 

 they are as vigorous later on if the food is inferior. 



