WEST COAST BEEKEEPERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 February 1932, Page 3

WEST COAST BEEKEEPERS

SUCCESSFUL FIELD DAY Under ideal weather conditions and with a fair attendance of members, the West Coast branch of the National Beekeepers’ Association held their annual field day on Saturday at a local experimental apiary. The Mayor, (Mr. J. W. Greenslade), in opening the field day, expressed his pleasure at being present, and said it was the first occasion on which he had had the opportunity of being present at a field day, and he appreciated the fact very much. “I am afraid,” said Mr. Greenslade, “that I do not know much about the honey industry generally, although I am a busy ibee myself, but I can appreciate the (Valuable services rendered by the Association and beekeepers generally on 1 the AVest Coast. I think we all recogJnise that you have brought the stanidard up much higher than it was sev|eral years ago, and it is chieflj r due Ito your experts, your Association, and 'Mr. Page, for their tutoring and help in every way. We recognise that while at the present time we are going through difficult times, and we feel very (despondent generally with regard to the industry, we must remember that beekeepers are suffering with others, and we have got to keep things I going to keep up to the market, for after all depressions are only passing ’ phases and later on we will reap a reward from the industry, so I hope beei keepers will not be disheartened in any way. The honey industry is destined to play a big part on the West Coast. As I have previously said, the time will come again when benefits ■will be reaped. During the Great AVar beekeeping was in its initial stages, but now N.Z. honey has come into its own, and I understand at the present. time it holds the proud position of topping the- markets of the world. The Government has granted some £9OOO annually for advertising N.Z. honey. That has done a great deal to help and we are grateful to the Government in that respect, and we hope that it will continue to co-oper-ate with the honey producers to keep N.Z. honey in the very front. I wish to reiterate once again that you will not be disheartened; that you will follow the advice of your experts, even if it incurs a little expenditure, for later on you will reap the reward of that expenditure. Finally, if I can do anything in any way, I will be pleased to associate myself with yourselves, and hope that the cloud of depression will soon lift; also that your production will increase, and I think we have the facilities here for doing that, and thus ensure prosperity in the future.”

Mr. G. F. Page (Apiary Inspector for the Department of Agriculture), gave an interesting address to beginners. “It is usual at these functions,” said Mr. Page, “to begin with a talk to beginners, but with the cloud of depression hanging over us, people are not very keen on starting anything new or launching out in any way. There are several ways of looking at it which possibly will he some encouragement to those contemplating taking up beekeeping. The present time is a good time to start for it is a cheaper time, and you will reap the benefits which are bound to come in later years. The first thing for beginners to recognise is that bees sting, and stings are not very pleasant. I can well remember the first time 1 got stung. I contemplated very hard whether I would go on with bees or not, but if you stick at it that wears off and you do not mind the stings; but it is wrong to go into beekeeping with the idea that you will not be stung, because you will get stung in every walk of life. (Laughter). If You do not get it one way you will get it another. There are one or two things with regard to stings that may be a comfort to beginners. It is now credited that bee stings are beneficial, there being institutions in Germany in which they inoculate for rheumatism with bee stings. It is the tendency of beginners of launching out in a large way and they goon get into difficulties and cannot keep going. But if a beginner gets two hives and can manage them, then he can manage ten, but if he cannot keep two going then he cannot keep 10 going. One very important feature of beekeeping is to go through your hives regularly giving them the attention they need, and taking off honey from the beginning of the season to the end. In the Autumn the. hives need little attention till about August. But if the beekeeper is not prepared to go through his hives regularly during the season then he would be wiser never to start beekeeping at all.” Mr. Page then gave a. practical demonstration on the opening up of a .hive; two Italian queens were liberat!ed in different colonies prepared in the apiary; and many of the mysteries of the hive were expounded and many

useful tips given to x the young beekeeper. After a short adjournment for afternoon tea, Mr. F. Martin, of Roa, gave a practical demonstration on useful implements in connection with queenrearing that could be made by the beekeeper himself with equally as good a result as patented ones. He also gave an interesting demonstration on queenrearing, expressing his opinion that it was very difficult to reai B queens on the Coast on account of the climate. His demonstration of how to make queen cells and various methods of cutting and placing combs on the hive was watched with great interest by beekeepers present. Mr. Page again spoke, corroborating with Mr. Martin’s views on . time for rearing queens. He also briefly spoke on swarming and foul brood. Mr. T. Smithers, President of the AVest Coast Branch of the National Beekeepers’ Association, on behalf of the beekeepers present thanked al) those responsible for making the afternoon a success, and Mr. A. E. AVeaver, for the use of his apiary.