From: DeeALusby1@aol.com
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 23:15:35 EST
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: My How Times Change - The Old ARS Way!

Hi All

Since writing to Gene, figured I'd just continue:

Again from "Beekeeping in the United States" 1967,revised 1971:

Under preparing colonies for winter for population is was recommended:

*The strength of a colony of bees is relative and difficult to describe. A
'strong' colony to one beekeeper might be 'weak' to another. Colonies with
less than 10 pounds of bees should be united to stronger ones or several
weaker ones combined (We piggyback with double screens over stronger
ourserves, by the way! D-) At between 40 and 50F, 10 pounds of bees will
cover practically all the combs of a three-story hive wall to wall and top to
bottom. Naturally as the temperature drops the cluster will contract.

The beekeeper must see that at no time is the available space for brood
rearing reduced because of overcrowding with honey from the fall flow. A
balance must be maintained between crowding the colony to get the brood
chambers well filled with honey and adding space to relieve brood rearing
restriction. Partially filled supers kept on colonies in the fall may be
necessary. Any subnormal colony should not be overwintered, but should be
united with another colony (Again we piggy back with double screens to help-
D)

A colony may appear to have an adequate fall population, but if the bees are
old, it will weaken rapidly as winter advances and may starve to death, even
with abundant honey in the hive, because the cluster is too small to cover
the honey stores.*

Regards,

Dee A. Lusb