BEEKEEPING.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17063, 7 February 1921, Page 3

BEEKEEPING.

field day at avonhead. Members of the Canterbury branch __ of the National Ueekeopers' Association of X-aw Z-;aland attended in great force the field day o;i Saturday at the Demonstration Farm of the Department of Agriculture at the Avonhead Discharged -Soldiers' Settlement. Close upon olio hundred were present, the large number of ladies being- noteworthy. Mr C. A. Pope, the president of the branch, welcomed the "visitors, and Mr E. A.Earp, Apiary Instructor for tho Canterbury district, addressed the on the work being- done by the Apiary Division of the Department of Agriculture in the interests of discharged eoldiere, and also of those taking up beekeeping as a means of livelihood. Mr Geo. Witty, M.P., said that ho was greatly • interested m the subject of beekeeping and assured* his hearers that matters affecting the honey industry would receive his careful attention in Parliament. Addresses wero also given, bv Mr V\. B. Bray, who spoke on out-apiary management; by Mr Fred. C. iiair.es, secretary of the National Beek?epern' Association, -who spoke of the need for organisation amongst beekeepers; by Mr E. G-. Ward, who dealt with beekeeping as ar. occupation for women; by Mr John Bentoul, who dealt with the operations of the • Honey Co-operative Association; and bv-Mr VT. E. Barker, who spoke of the recent appearance of the Mason bee in Canterbury. In the aiternoon Mr Earp and Mr L. Hieht, beekeeper in charge of the Avonhead Apiary, gave practical demonstrations at the Apiary in opening hives. Mr Earp epobe on the rise of excluders, ana also gave a. number of practical hints and suggestions regarding- efficient apiary management. The Avonhead Apiary oonaists of 6omo 70 or 80 colonies, and in addition to the training of discharged eoldier settlers in beekeeping methods, experiments are being conducted with different eizes and styles of hives. During the day tea and other refreshments were provided.