, 1917-11-15

prenared by the Unlteu StdteS Depart-
ment of Agriculture.)
The beekeepers of the United
c,otns lose Mt least one-tenth of their
colonies of bees every winter. This
is u minimum loss, which is frequent
,v increased TO one-half and sometimes
more in certain sections. This de-
creose is largely due to carelessness or
to lack of knowledge, and 1t Is entire
ly practical to reduce 1t to less than
one per cent, the small loss covering
various accidents which cannot be fore
seen. An industry which n survive
in the face of such a decrease must
have great possibilities for CONNER
cial advancement when the loss is
properly reduced.
The causes of the death of individ-
nal bees or of a colony of bees in win
ter. barring unusual accidents, are only
two in number: ~ Inadequate stores
and (2) excessive heat production.
1.-THE numerous factors usually given
lin the literature on the subject rs en-
.tirely distinct fall into these two
classes, except for some that are usu-
.ally given which the authors do not be-
'lieve to be operative.
Excessive Heat Generation.
It was first shown by specialists of
{the United States department of agri-
culture that at hive temperatures be-
tween 81 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. n
normal ~brOodless colony of bees does
hot form a cluster, but the bees re-
main inactive on the combs. When the
Temperature of the air Immediately
surrounding the bees (not the tenn
perature of the air outside the hive)
falls to 81 degrees Fahrenheit or low
er, they form n cluster and those in
THE center begin to generate heat by
muscular activity, while those in the
puter portion serve as insulators by
providing close together, usually with
their heads toward the center of the
cluster. The innermost portion rapid
Qy acquires a temperature consider
Rbly higher than that of the air about
The bees before clustering was neces-
1sary, often going to 90 degrees Fab
fenhelt In normal colonies and higher
in abnormal ones. The number of bees
Engaged in heat production increases
hs the outer temperature falls and the
Insulating zone is consequently de-
creased in thickness but becomes more
compact. The entire cluster becomes
Smaller as the outer temperature falls.
Necessity of Packing.
II bees Fan be kept in an environ
2nent such that the temperature of the
air Immediately surrounding them is
degrees Fahrenheit, or slightly
nbove, they are saved much unneces
fary and improbable labor. To the
theoretical objection that bees need
exercise, 1t is necessary only to state
ihat the authors have so wintered bees
~ n cellar as well as outdoors with
wonderfully successful results. If bees
pre kept in n cellar under the best
conditions the results are excellent,
put 1t is not proposed to discuss this
fnore complicated phase of the sub
9"ct here. If wintered outside in n
packing case with abundant insula-
ioh' any heat generated escapes slow
" n the temperature of the air in
ne hive rarely falls below 55 degrees
ahrNlheit. If infrequently protect
~ The temperature of the hive can
pot be kept so high and the bees must
generate much more heat. In single
'alIcd hives 1t is common for the tenn
perature of the air around the cluster
0 fall to freezing or lower, In which
f'eht the bees generate an excessive
mount of heat and perhaps die when
hey are no longer capable of the
PectSsary muscular activity. The ne
eSslty OF packing Is thus made clear,
M In any locality In which the outer
,elhperature often falls to 40 degrees
uhrehheit, or below, 1t is desir-
"e to protect bees to conserve
fhelr Vitality. If the temperature
'pouid fall to 40 degrees Fahrenheit
inly a few times during the winter,
nS would not be serious enough to
luke Insulation necessary.
Accumulation Of Feces.
I'at generation causes increased
assumption of stores; this in turn
'uS'S an accumulation of feces with
'he bees, which Is more rapid If the
|I's contain "A high percentage of
"S'Stihle materials, and the pres
Ee OF feces cause increased activ-
"tten resulting in the death from
N'NNlNe heat generation. Beekeep-
roII this condition dysentery If the
,u"'uIation is so excessive that the
are unable to retain the feces.
'Sen'ery causes the death of bees
WINTER so far MS has been seen,
v'y ny undue activity and excessive
production. This detrimental eff
Is reduced by good stores, but OBJ
YuS'S the proper method is to pre-
an unnecessary accumulation of
g ny preventing a heavy consump-