WEST COAST HONEY

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1943, Page 6

WEST COAST HONEY

GREATLY REDUCED YIELD. “Westland beekeepers have had a very difficult season to contend with this year, and the volume of honey produced was much below average,” stated Mr. E. Smellie, Apiary Instructor, in Greymouth, to-day. He said the last three seasons had been poor, while this season’s Coast production was approximately 20 per cent, below the average. However, this district was not alone in that respect. For example, the dry weather in Marlborough and the changeable conditions in Nelson had produced somewhat similar results to that caused by the excessive rainfall on the Coast, although the Nelson

[yield was still of fair proportions. In some parts of the North Island the unusually dry season had also retarded production. “The nectar sources that were available on the fine days during the Spring did much to improve the colony 7 stores and also to promote the brood rearing which is necessary to build up the bee strength for the main honey flow. However, the persistent rainfall during the main producing period caused excessive swarming in the apiaries, and at the same time deterred the bees from flying to the rata blossom, which bloomed rather heavier than usual this year. “The rata honey is the mainstay of the Coast honey industry and, as the yield from this source was adversely influenced by these factors, West Coast honey will be in short supply this year. In most of the Westland apiaries the bees are in good condition for the Winter and have ample Winter stores,” added Mr. Smellie.