14 WISCONSIN^BULLETIN 264 



winter loss is almost certain to result Sometirnes from 50 

 to 75 per cent of the colonies wintered on such food die be- 

 fore the first of March, largely from dysentery. 



When large amounts of undesirable food are present, the 

 successful beekeeper will remove most of it m the late tail 

 and feed the colonies according to their needs for winter 

 corresponding quantities of either good honey or some kind 

 of good sugar syrup. Sugar syrup for late feedmg should be 

 made by boiling for a few minutes two parts of sugar with 

 one of water by measure. To aid in preventing the sugar 

 from crystallizing in the combs three-fourths of an ounce of 

 tartaric acid should be added to each 50 pounds of sugar 

 used. The syrup should be fed while warm, preferably above 

 the bees in large feeders and in as large quantities as possible 

 until a sufficient amount is stored. For an average colony 

 wintered in the cellar, from 25 to 30 pounds of actual food 

 should be available. For colonies wintered out-of-doors 30 

 to 40 pounds of actual stores is necessary. 



Colonies Need Young Fertile Queens 



Young fertile queens are practically necessary for success- 

 ful wintering of bees. The late summer and early fall is the 

 correct time for the successful beekeeper to manage his col- 

 onies in such a way that each one will have a fertile queen reared 

 the same or the previous season. Where a fairly good flow 

 of honey is obtainable from sweet clover, goldenrod or early 

 fall flowers, a good method for raising queens in late summer 

 is to feed the desired queen-rearing colony each evening a 

 small amount in addition to the natural honey flow. This 

 will cause the colony to become exceptionally strong and 

 incite the bees to raise a considerable number of fine large, 

 well nourished queen cells. When these have been capped 

 and may be expected to hatch, in three or four days, divide 

 the two or three strongest colonies in the bee yard into three 

 and four frame groups. Give to each a capped queen cell 

 and to prevent robbing, be certain that the entrances to 

 them are as small as convenient. When these queens are 

 laying, they may be introduced into the desired colonies. 



The remaining essential for successful wintering of bees, 

 controlled by late summer and fall management, is that there 



