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Wisconsin Bulletin 264 



weather in late fall to the proper time for their removal from 

 the cellar in early spring, or if wintered out-doors, to the 

 time for the appearance of the first natural pollen. In Wis- 

 consin, this period will usually be from March 20 to April 15. 

 Winter loss is a term applied to the bees that die from the 

 time that settled cold weather begins to the time for the ap- 

 pearance of the first natural pollen in the spring. Nearly all 

 Wisconsin bees are wintered in cellars. Of 186 Wisconsin 

 beekeepers reporting in October, 1914, to the State Apiary 



fig. 5. — AN IDEAL BEE CELLAR 



These colonies are well protected from cold, well supplied with pure air and 

 shielded from light. This cellar is dug in a solid sand rocli bluff. 



Inspector, 160 or 86 per cent wintered their bees in cellars, 21 

 or 11.8 per cent wintered their bees out-doors, and only five, 

 or two per cent used special repositories and packed apiary- 

 houses. 



Factors in Successful Wintering 



There are four main essentials that must be provided for 

 successful wintering of bees. The first three factors, sufficient 

 and proper food supply, young fertile queens, and plenty of 



