UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 325 
Contribution from the Bureau of Crop Estimates 
SSm^' >< ^^U LEON M. ESTABROOK, Chief 
Washington, D. C. ▼ November 26, 1915 
HONEYBEES: WINTERING, YIELDS, IMPORTS AND 
EXPORTS OF HONEY. 
By Samuel A. Jones, Chief, Division of Crop Reports. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Wintering, 1914-15 1 
Condition and honey yields, season 1915 3 
Imports and exports of honey . 6 
WINTERING OF HONEYBEES, WINTER 1914-15. 
The data included in returns from about 650 honey producers in 42 
States, covering 80,000 colonies of bees, including full reports from 
the important honey-producing States, bearing primarily upon the 
wintering of bees and showing the losses and causes thereof for the 
past winter, are summarized in Tables 1 and 2. 
While the figures are believed to be fairly representative and trust- 
worthy, this can not be assumed in all cases, as some States producing 
considerable honey failed to furnish enough reports to give full confi- 
dence in the State average. 
It will be seen by reference to column 1 that bees entered winter 
quarters in good condition, notwithstanding the poor soason in much 
of the country. Two factors probably contributed largely to this 
result, the first being that in States where little surplus honey was 
stored in the spring and early summer many beekeepers refrained 
from removing honey from the hives, and the second that the fall 
nectar flow was generally good, permitting the colonies to build up 
and affording sufficient supplies for winter. 
It will be seen by reference to columns 4 and 5 that the average 
quantity of honey on hand at the beginning of winter was generally 
in excess of what was assumed by the beekeepers reporting to be 
Note. — This bulletin will be found of interest to beekeepers and dealers in bee products. 
9956°— Bull. 325—15 
