Beekeeping in Wisconsin 17 



young worker bees, have already been considered. In out- 

 ,door wintering several methods are used to provide the de- 

 sired protection. One method is to wrap the hives in heavy 

 paper. As insufficient protection is usually given the bees 

 against our cold and changeable weather, more Wisconsin 

 beemen who winter their colonies out-of-doors might well 

 follow this plan. 



Probably the most common method of wintering bees out- 

 doors in Wisconsin is to enclose a single hive in a box or 

 "winter case" large enough to permit two or three inches of 

 packing to be placed around and over the hive. Sometimes 

 these winter cases are made large enough for each to accom- 

 modate two or four colonies. Sometimes colonies are ar- 

 ranged in long rows in tenement sheds of permanently or 

 temporarily constructed side walls and roof. Suitable pack- 

 ing is then placed over and about the hives. Double walled 

 hives are also used for out-door wintering, but only to a 

 limited extent in Wisconsin. 



Many Bees Wintered in Cellar 



When bees are wintered in the cellar, the cellar itself is 

 the protection against the winter weather. Successful cellar 

 wintering of bees resolves itself into the observance and 

 maintenance of proper bee-cellar conditions. The cellar 

 must maintain a fairly constant temperature, not high or 

 low, 42 degrees F. to 48 degrees F. being generally consid- 

 ered the most practical temperature; it must be well venti- 

 lated with pure air, naturally through the floor, ceiling, and 

 walls, or artifically with ventilating tubes; it must also be 

 dry and it must be dark. A bee-cellar which possesses these 

 conditions, provided naturally or artifically for the entire 

 winter will always winter bees with absolutely no loss pro- 

 viding the colonies are properly prepared for wintering. 



Winter Loss Can Be Controlled 



Winter loss is due to the partial or total absence of one or 

 more of the essential requisites for successful wintering. The 

 amount or extent of winter loss is absolutely under the con- 

 trol of the beekeeper. The winter loss in Wisconsin for 1892- 



