BEE-KEEPING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 123, 25 May 1908, Page 2

BEE-KEEPING.

WORK OF THE STATE. [By Teleghx^h. — Special to The Post.] AUCKLAND, This Day. Mr. Isaac Hopkins, Governmen Apiarist, while in Auckland gave an interviewer an account of the experimental work at present being carried on at the State farms at Waeranga and Ruakura. Great work was being done in the interests" of bee culture, he said, and many of the experiments gave promise of being crowned with success. An experiment of special value is being carried on at Ruakura 1 where an effort is being made to discover the best method of ripening and maturing honey. Up to the present there has always been a good deal of guess work in arriving at a conclusion as to when honey is ripe. Very often unripe honey finds its way on to the market containing an excess of water ; unless the quantity of water is reduced to under 15 per cent, the article is likely to ferment. No proper system exists for determining the condition, and the present experiments are being carried on with the result that in the course of another season or two. it is hoped to y formulate a definite plan ■ for testing' different standards of honey. Speaking of the industry generally, Sir. Hopkins says'that the conditions of ' the new Apiaries Act are being conformed with, and no trouble has been experienced by the department. During the next season or two excellent results are looked for. The industry is making excellent progress, and one bee keeper in the Auckland province has increasd his property to 1000 colonies.