PREPARATION OP BEES FOE OUTI>OOB WINTEEIHG. 



15 



of the zones into which the map of the eastern United States is di- 

 vided- Perhaps it will be a matter of surprise to beekeepers in parts 

 of the South to see that, so far as the wintering of the bees is con- 

 cerned, they are as far north as beekeepers who live many miles 

 farther toward the pole. 



The lines on figure 5 indicate the average dates of the first 

 killing frost in the fall, and these dates, given at the ends of 

 the heavy lines, are of direct value to the beekeeper as giving the 

 pro|)er time for putting on the winter cases. The average dates of 

 the last killing frost in the spring do not show exactly the same lines 

 on the maps, but the differences are not sufficiently great to justify 

 the use of a separate map for this purpose. The authors have chosen 

 therefore to divide the country into the zones indicated, and the rec- 

 ommendations given below apply to each of the zones shown. 



On account of the variations in elevation, it is impossible to carry 

 these lines into the Eocky Mountain region, but as packing is just 

 as necessary in the West as in the East, figure 6 is inserted to 

 indicate roughly the time for the putting on of the packing in the 

 fall. The dates in this map are the average dates of the first killing 

 frost. By consulting Table I the beekeeper of the West may learn 

 the time advised for the removal of the packing, by placing his 

 locality in its proper zone, on the basis of the first killing frost. 



Tabxje I. — Dates for the packing and unpacking of hees in the various parts of 

 the United States j "based on data furnished hy the Weather Bureau for the 

 average dates of the first and last killing frosts. The amount of packmg 

 recommended for each zone is included. 



Zone. 



Date for 

 packmg. 



Bate for 

 unpacking. 



' Fasckto^ 

 recom- 

 jmended.^ 



J- Remarks. 



A 









• 

 None needied. 



B 









Do. 



c 



November 25 



November 10 



October 25 



October I 



September 15.— 



March 15 



AprillO 



M^y 1. p.--. 



2-4- 6 

 4-6-8 

 4-6- 8 

 4-8-12 

 4-8-12 





D 



E 





F 



ltoy2S0 





G 



Juno 1. 



Cellar wintering muc^ saler. 









1 In this colnann the first tgwe represMits iainehes the amount of paeMng needed below iM bottom 

 boards, the second the amount of side packing, and the last the amount needed on top. I 



TIME FOR PUTTING ON THE WINTEK PACKING. 



Frequently great loss of colony strength is due to delay in putting 

 on the packing. Perhaps ihis is the m^t common source of loss in 

 outdoor wintering aside from that due to a failure to pack the bees 

 at all. Packing should not be deferred after the flowers furnishing 

 the last homey are killed by frost. In case the late fall flowers fur- 

 nish honey that is to be removed, then it is necessary to wait until 

 nectar is no longer coming^ in before applying the packing, but it is 

 indeed rare that the last honey should be taken away, and it is good 

 beekeeping to apply tlie packing efen before there is any frost at 

 all- The determining factor is the necessity for handling the bee& 



