4 FAEMEES' BULLETIN 1012. 



in the fall to last until new honey comes in. This is dangerous for 

 two reasons : Too often the stores are not given on time or in ade- 

 quate quantity, and frequently they can not be given without expos- 

 ing the colony too greatly. It is therefore the best practice by far to 

 provide all of these factors in the fall, and no other methods are so 

 safe and certain of success. By practicing the methods here given 

 the enormous annual loss of colonies in winter may be almost entirely 

 eliminated, and, what is more important, much stronger colonies may 

 be obtained for the early sources of honey. 



NECESSITY FOR STRONG COLONIES IN THE FALL. 



A common cause of loss is through attempting to winter colonies 

 that are too small. It is somewhat difficult to set a standard for 

 colony strength at this season, but in general it may be stated that it 

 is unwise to attempt to winter colonies that are not strong enough 

 to have brood sufficient to fill three to four Langstroth frames two 

 months before the packing is applied. If the colonies in the apiary 

 are not of the proper strength it is wise to unite until the proper 

 strength is reached. Any uniting should be done at least two weeks 

 before packing. There is a tendency in some localities for colonies 

 to weaken rapidly in early fall, due to the nature of the honey-flow 

 from fall flowers. To some degree this may be offset by putting on 

 the packing earlier than otherwise would be necessary. 



It is highly important that each colony have a vigorous queen 

 in order that brood-rearing may continue in the fall and may pro- 

 ceed rapidly in the spring. With colonies such as are obtained by 

 the methods here described it is not desirable to keep queens more 

 than two years and it is preferable to requeen the entire apiary every 

 season. To get the best results in requeening all young queens should 

 be introduced so that they will begin laying two months before pack- 

 ing. It will be found that queens wear out more rapidly in the 

 unusually- strong colonies obtained by the methods of wintering here 

 described, but every good beekeeper realizes that it is these enormous 

 colonies which get the greatest crops. 



ARRANGBMES^T OF THE APIARY. 



WIND PROTECTION. 



It is of the greatest importance that the apiary be located where 

 the wind in winter is virtually eliminated. A grove of trees or an 

 adjacent hill usually offers the best protection, or it is possible to 

 make an artificial windbreak such as a high fence. A natural wind- 

 break usually is better^ for it is more extensive in most cases. It 

 has been found by the authors that if a wind of 20 miles an hour 

 blows on the winter packing cases for a few hours the temperature 



