APIARY NOTES

Feilding Star, Volume 9, Issue 3646, 15 February 1932, Page 6

APIARY NOTES

FEBRUARY’S OPERATIONS (By D S. Robinson, Apiary Instructor, Department of Agriculture) EXTRACTION OF HONEY This month sees the extraction of honey in full swing. With the continuation of dry weather, are advised to pay particular attention to the. matter of supering up their hives, for the pastures are so idried up that little or uo nectar is now coming in. At the same time, watch should lie kejit to seo that in the event of the honey how again starting, space is provided in which the bees may* store the nectaa*. If sections are bciug produced, these should be removed as soon as they are filled. Remember, they require delicate handling, as a damaged section soon gets messy and unfit for sale. Beekeepers working for extracted honey are well advised to make at least two extractihigs. As soon as a reasonable number of frames are 75 per cent capped, remove these, extract honey and replace frames. The replacing is best done at sundown when tliero are not. many bees flying, as this will tend to excite the bees less.

As the combs are taken out they should lie placed in a. spai'e empty super to which is fitted a tin tray to catch tli,e drip of honey and thus avoid spilling honey in the apiary or honey house, while in this super thev should he covered over with a cloth to prevent other bees gaining access to them. ,