Honey-Producing Trees.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4419, 12 July 1884, Page 3

Honey-Producing Trees.

At the first annual meeting of tho Auckland Provincial Beekeeper*' Association, hold at Pukokohc on the 'JtJth April last, tho following paper by Mr. J. Mayo, of Drury, was read by tho Secretary;—Mr. Chairman and Gcutlemon, —It ban occurred to my mind several times lately that Government might, at very little (if any) cost, do a great deal for Now Zealand bee-keepers, were they in their official capacity to obtain from tho other Australasian Colonies information regarding their most useful and hardy honeyproducing shrubs and trees. 1 say troos because 1 coiuidor that iv many respects thoy are valuablo in our country for boo pasturage Once established thoy require no furthor trouble from the cultivator, and, if of evergreen tribes, would nerve a treble purpose, >.?., produce honey, give shelter, and be ornamental. I would direct your attention to tlio easy manner in which tho Government can obtain needs—generally from the botanical departments of other governments for the asking. 0.P..5.0. is tho "open sesame" re carriage, Ac, and were tho secretory to any beo-koopetvi' association in Now Zealand supplied with the seeds of such trees as I have, mentioned, I know of no bettor plan for their dissemination, in order to insure proper wire and treatment for their acclimatisation, than giving them to a bee-keeper. Tlio best sign of it thriving, industrious, careful person is, in my opinion, a row of lice-hives iv his gin-den. Iv my travels through life —and 1 havo travelled protty extensively— 1 havo always notii-ou that a well-kept apiary has ever denoted comfort and industry in that homo. It is impossible to keep and care for been iv a favourite place ami not copy their diligence and patience iv gathering up stores for " tlio rainy days to como." The next utoji for Government iv the right direction would lie to appoint ii person or persons to travel the country annually at the proper times to .sow clover and mien like seeds on Governmunt lands, wherever lire* had run through them, In March or April, any settler's written Information being tmtliciunt notice that such tire had occurred. This system would not only give ill bee-food, but would also so enhance the value of the land Iliat Government would reap cent, per cent, or more on the outlay incurred; it would also tend to tho destruction of those abominations to bees and bco-koopow, viz., non-flowering plants—particularly ferns—more than anything el.so I know of, by attracting cattlo to cat and tread them down. When I think of the liberality of our Government in fostering other industries by giving bonuses to thism —for example, thu iron, choeso, tobacco, twh-curinj; industries, ami many others—l do think that if wo were to ask them to carry out mioli a programme at the above, wo would not be asking for more than has already beon granted to others. Gentlemen, the choicest exotics which grow in your neighbour's garden yield up their sweets to tins bee n* readily as tho wild flowers, and it is no robbery to send your bee.-i oror tlio fence to gnlher honey from every opening flower. Keep been wlmro thero are plenty of peoplo to keep flowers, and persuade everybody to grow flowers.