The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1907. Bee Culture.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 271, 21 May 1907, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1907. Bee Culture.

Mb J. Smith deserves the thanks of the community for directing attention to the advantages of bee-culture in his motion passed at last meeting of the Wanganui Education Board. We are not quite sure that his method of doing so is the best that could be devised — that is of obtaining the services of the Government expert to | give instruction to teachers — but in any case the interest attracted to the question alone by means of his action is a benefit to the community. What is more delicious for a family than a supply of pure honey, attractively sealed up in the neat wooden frames now used for the purpose. And when it is remembered that, except the initial cost ,the production of this valuable article of diet can be accomplished at an infinitesimal cost by anyone, the advantage of furthering the industry is manifest. We recently published figures showing that a dairy farmer down south had actually made more out of his bees than from his cows, and what he accomplished is within the reach of most folk. To the average individual a bee is merely a thing which has remarkably sharp stings, but the expert knows the immense possibilities for money-making contained behind that sting. It would be a good thing for the Farmers' Union to look into this matter and ascertain whether it is not possible for Mr Hopkins, the Government apiarian, to give a demonstration and a lecture in this district. From what we know of the success of his work at the Christchurch Exhibition, we feel sure that such a course would prove immensely advantageous to the community.