FARMS AND FARMERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 September 1938, Page 9

FARMS AND FARMERS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

(By

“Rouseabout”)

HONEY-PRODUCERS.

PLANTS IN WESTLAND

Writing in the August issue of the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture. Air. G. F. Page, apiary instructor at G’.eyniouth, states: It is doubtful whether there is any other part of New Zealand with as wide a variety of lioney-producing plants as is found •in the provinces of Westland, Marlborough, and Nelson. In Westland the bees obtain very little honey from anything other than native trees and plants, and these are i so numerous that it is only possible in a short article to touch on some of the more commonly known varieties. Aluch of the nectar is gathered at seasons when the need of it in the hives prevents its being found in recognisable quantities in surplus lione;,. Such honey-flows, however, play an extremely important part in the life of a colony of bees, and may be indirectly responsible in the production of a surplus crop in due season. The earliest source of nectar is what is commonly knpwn in this district as ‘‘Five-finger” (Nothopanax Colensoi), flowering from July to October. The bees work this freely when conditions permit. Another very early flowering plant from which the bees forage nectar is rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda), flowering in August and September. Its principal concentration is on the limestone hills at Greymouth and also at Barrytown; to my knowledge there is none south of the Grey River. The honey from this source has never been found in recognisable quantities in surplus honey.

Tn some seasons gorse (Ulex europoeus) is worked quite freely by the bees and honey is stored in noticeable quantity, the hives registering an increase in weight. Following and coincident with gorse is the wellknown kowhai (Sophora tetraptera). This tree is found in all parts of Westland, but is more common in the northern end at Westport. It is very much in evidence at Murchison, up the Buller River, and at Inaugahua. A very heavy flow, but of of>■ comparatively short duration, is obtained from this source.

The bush-lawyer fßubus australis), a climbing bramble which is found extensively all through the bush, has a flowering season from Septembei’ to December, and in Westland the bees work it quite extensively during September and October. A very important Spring-flowering tree is the fuchsia, or kotukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata). This is -very widespread throughout the province, and has a long flowering season from August to December, but very little nectar is obtained from this source before September, when it secretes nectar profusely.

AREAS OF FLAX

All through Westland there are comparatively large areas of New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax). It is rare, however, to see much honey from this source appearing in surplus honey. Honey produced at Barrytown in some years is an exception in this, when the nectar darkens the honey and imparts its characteristic flavour. With the extensive distribution of blackberry (Rubus fruiticosus) in Westland, one would expect to find very much more honey obtained from this source than is the case. It is exceptional to be able to recognise its presence in surplus honey, but in some seasons I have observed the bees working it extensively during a very short period.

The wineberry (Aristotelia serrata) is found throughout Westland, and usually occupies areas from which the bush has been cleared. It is not prolific in its secretion of nectar, but in some years the bees make very good use of this source. One of the most prolific sources of nectar in Westland is the kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa), which is widely distributed and flowers during November and December. The honey is light amber, with, a characteristic and strong flavour.

Of the beech family there are the red-beech (Nothofagus fusca), the sil-ver-beech (N. Menziesii), the blackbeech (N. Solandri)-, and in the higher country the mountain-beech (N. cliffortioides). These trees are worked by the bees principally during November. The honey is strong in flavour, although light ,in colour. The two species of the scarlet mistletoe (Elytranthi Colensoi and Elytranthi tetrapetala) are well distributed through the bush. They are parasitic principally on Nothofagus solandri. The bees work this source for nectar during December and January, and only in occasional seasons is there sufficient in surplus honey to detect its presence by taste. Isolated specimens of the inaina, or mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus), are found in all parts of Westland. It secretes nectar profusely, and is freely worked by the bees. The most important source of nectar to Westland beekeepers, although not the most consistent, is the rata (Metrosideros lucida). This commences flowering on the coast in December, while in the mountainous country it may be as late as April before it ceases. The greatest benefit from this source is usually obtained by the bees during January and February, The rata vine (M. perforata) is in evidence in the bush, in most seasons of the year. It is a useful source of nectar, but never gives a flow comparable to Metrosideros lucida. Another of this family found in this district is the white rata shrub (M. florida), which is worked, freely by the bees. It is well distributed throughout the bush, but there is insufficient to play an important part in the production of a crop. There are two members of the ribbonwood family worked by the bees in Westland —Hoheria augustifolia and the mountain-ribbon wood (11. Lyallii). I’,otli flower in the Autumn (February to March) and later. They are an important factor in providing a fall flow to the bees.

PRESENCE OF RAGWORT

The presence of ragwort (Seneciol .iacohoea) and the advance it is mak-’ ing in Westland is a matter of con-J cei'ii to beekeepers and dairy-farmers ■ alike. Its flowering in the higher! country coincides with that of rata.| ami if the latter is flowering and is accessible the bees will not work the ragwort to any extent, but as rata is not consistent in flowering, in its offseason the bees work the ragwort extensively. and evidence of this can be

readily detected in the honey extracted at the close of the season. All through the bush there is a large variety of koromiko or veronica ’(Hebe genus). The different variej ties produce blue, purple, and white ! flowers which are worked freely by ■ bees, and in some seasons they play j a large part in the production of bonj ey in Westland. I Among the pasture plants in Westi land there is no other playing as iini portant a part in honey production as I Lotus major (order leguniinocae). The climatic conditions in this district are particularly suitable to the establish- ; ment of Lotus major, and it is spreading rapidly in all pastures. Its prin- ! cipal flowering months are January ! and February. In off-seasons for the I rata, fair crops can be harvested from I this source, and it is becoming inI creasingly important as the bush recedes and pastures and secondary [growth take its place. ! The suitability of the climatic conditions of Westland to the establishment of pennyroyal (Alentha puleguim) is disquieting, although there is not very much in evidence at present. It has made considerable progress at Inaugahua, and I have detected it in a pronounced form in the honey of that district. One of the principal difficulties faced by the beekeepers depending on the native bush as the source of nectar is the irregularity and inconsistency of the’ flowering of most of the native plants. In some years it will be difficult to find any rata •in bloom, and in such a year crops in Westland are likely to be below the average, but there is such a variety of plants for bees to work that it is exceptional to have a year in which a fair crop cannot be obtained. Mr. Page adds that he is indebted to Mr. C. S. Neville, Inspector of Stock. Greyniouth, for the botanical identification of some of the plants dealt with in the article.

SHEEP IN ENGLAND.

FEWER REGISTERED FLOCKS

Sheep farming practice in England has been much affected bv the general reduction in the arable acreage since the war and the change-over to grassland farming. To-day the grass breeds predominate where formerly arable flocks were the mainstay of many farms. Writing in the Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. R. P. Asken has shown how the numbers of registered flocks of four breeds have fallen from more than 1,200 to SOO in 25 years. Also the size of the remaining arable flocks has been reduced.

Sheep farmers have been- content to cross the various breeds rather indiscriminately. and there are to-day a great many mongrel sheep in the country which cannot be considered ideal for grassland farming. Others have turned to Scotland bought Cheviot and halfbred (Border Leicester cross Cheviot) ewe lambs, bringing them south to mate with Down rams. They are producing a good type of fat lamb which sells readily in the Summer.

When sheep are run on permanent grass all the year round there is a strict limit to the number of ewes that can be carried on the farm. It is fatally easy to overstock a grass farm 'with 'sheep, and incur the penalties of worm infestation and unthriftiness. There is evidence to-day that it would pay some farmers to carry fewer sheep and more cattle on their pastures or else put the plough into their pastures in rotation and run the ewes and lambs on fresh grass and clover leys taken in a corngrowing rotation. The latter policy should commend itself to farmers at the present time, when there is more prospect of a reasonable return from the cereal crops, and there are available strains of grasses and clover which, readily establish a productive sward.

It seems unlikely that there will be a general return to arable sheep farming in the pre-war style, even though lamb prices and corn prices may remain good. The drawback to this system was the large amount of labour needed for the flock through the year, and to-day most farmers regard labour as a scarce commodity to be used sparingly. The advantage, above all other considerations, was the fertility which a folded flock conferred on light land which was not naturally right in plant food, but -which would grow, good crops of barley and other cereals when manured generously by the sheepfold. HEDGEHOG’S NEW ROLE.

FIGHT AGAINST CATTLE DISEASE

The hedgehog is playing an important role in experiments at Pirbright, Surrey, to combat foot-and-mouth disease, states (he third report of the Agricultural Research Council, issued recently. The hedgehog is very susceptible to the disease, and unlike the guinea-pig but like cattle, can spread it by contact and through the breath, both to other hedgehogs and also to cattle. Valuable results are hoped for from further study of the disease in hedgehogs. especially if they can be induced to breed in captivity, as captured wild animals are always difficult for experiment. t , It lias been found that well-fed and well-grown rats take the disease more readily than those that aie undernourished. Tests at Pirbright with a serum Lor which some success had been claimed in G'-rurally have proved disappoint-

ing. There is some evidence that the disease mav be carried in dust and other winds. Little direct evidence has been found in this country for the existence of carriers among cattle.

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