two story hives, which give them a
horizontal bee space through the middle between the two divisions, is
highly recommended for successful wintering.

[Illustration: Francis Jager, Professor of Apiculture, University Farm,
St. Paul.]

In long-continued severe cold the bee clusters will contract into a very
small, compact mass. The tendency of this cluster is to move upward
where the air is warmer. If enough honey is stored above them they will
keep in contact with it. If the honey is stored at the side, the bees
sometimes lose their contact with it and die of starvation and cold.
This is another argument in favor of wintering in two story hives. Often
they will move towards one corner and die there, leaving the other
corners filled with honey. If you must winter in one story hives give
bees plenty of honey in the fall and place the cluster at one side of
the hive so that they move necessarily toward the honey supply.

Bees should be kept in a cellar at a temperature of about 45 degrees.
The difference in the temperature between the outside and the inside of
the hive will be between 10 and 15 degrees. Very strong colonies, no
matter where kept, will keep themselves warm and will survive any degree
of cold, but there is no doubt that their vitality and ability to stand
wintering will suffer a great deal thereby, causing dwindling in the
spring. Cellar wintering is at present general in Minnesota. The bee
cellar should be warm, dry, dark and ventilated. The bees should not be
disturbed during their winter sleep by pounding, jarring, shaking and
feeding. Mice also may cause the bees to get excited and perish. A four
to one inch wire screen in front of the entrance will prevent mice from
getting inside.

The fundamental principles to guide the bee keeper in wintering his bees
are: First, strong colonies, at least six frames covered with bees when
clustered; second, ample store, not less than forty pounds of honey; and
third, a hive with not less than 57 degrees inside temperature. This
temperature may be maintained outside in a double walled hive or in a
hive lined with flax or felt, now manufactured for that purpose, or by
packing the hives in leaves, straw or shavings--or by putting them into
a warm cellar.

Bees in our climate should be put into winter quarters about November 15
and should not be put on their summer stands in the spring until soft
maples are in bloom.

By following these suggestions winter losses