BEEKEEPING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10725, 24 October 1928, Page 9

BEEKEEPING.

ADDRESS BY APIARY IN-

STRUCTO©;

Interesting facts in bee-keeping were outlined by Mr. E. H. Barry, ipiary instructor, addressing Poverty Bay beekeepers on Saturday. , “The Dominion offers exceptional facilities for production of highclass honey,” remarked Mr. Barry, “and this will become more and more pronounced as the population increases and our agriculture and -gardens are more firmly established.” “With the development of the .country, therefore, will develop opportunities for the increasing population to embark upon bee husbandry, as a means of earning a livelihood,” "he continued. “The indus-try-should retain its place among our pastoral dairying, poultry, and orchard. industries to the benefit of the whole Dominion.”

The speaker then mentioned that a prominent factor in regard to apiculture in New Zealand was its congenial climate. This ensured a longer period of vegetative growth as compared with other honey-pro-ducing countries, and' induced our plants to grow and bloom over a proportionately- longer season, and .the bees to be active in the production of. honey over the extended period Those combined conditions .paint©! to greater facilities for the production of bee products as compared with other countries situated under less favorable circumstances, ft should he evident, therefore, to the thoughtful section of the community, that" the industry should bo fostered and every possible effort made to keep our apiaries free from invasion bv diseases as to ensure a satisfactory honey harvest each year. Already a large volume of New Zealand honey was annually exported to overseas markets, the amount last season being 1100 tons. The excellence and purity of our product was widely recognised, and if the stand.arcl of quality was maintained—and it should not be difficult to maintain this under rational means of management—a (considerable expansion of our export trade was-, assured; which would be reflected in the prosperity of the Dominion. Referring to foul brood, the speaker mentioned that it attacks the bees in the larvae stage. “In the early stage of an attack a capped cell here and there appears somewhat different from the surrounding healthy-brood,” he said. Instead of the capping or’ seals, being bright, full and of convex form, characteristic of the healthy brood, they are of a dull, blaeldsh, brown color, amiarc fiat or sunken, an indication that the cells contain dead pupae ; The disease rapidly Spreads in- surrounding cells and combs, if allowed to take its course, until finally no brood can hatch and the colony succumbs. On opening some of the cells a thin gluo-like, coffee-colored mass will be found, which on the insertion of a splinter of wood, adhers to the point, and can be drawn ropcliko for somo distance out of the cell. This is one of the most distinctive features of foil] brood prevalent in New Zealand, and where present, is considered conclusive evidence of the disease. Later on this glue-like substance dries up into a black scalelike body. Foul brood is highly infections, and is spread by the robbing of diseaser colonies, honey being the chief agency by which the disease is carried irom one colony u. another. Another way in which the disease spreads through an apmry or a district is through the bee-keep-er having diseased combs and materials lying about.” HEALTH OF BEES. “With an assured market for bee products,” Air. Barry pointed out, “apiaries will increase in number and size, and as these are liable to invasion by disease, it is imperative that a. comparatively greater degree of vigilance and care must he exercised to ensure the maximum degree of health, it wil] he readily realised that- the amount of honey from these shores will be a mii-ror of the number of healthy hives which comprise our apiaries.”

TREATAIENT of foul brood

AVith regard to the treatment of foul brood,' Air. Barn- stated that the time to treat diseased colonies was during any period of the honey flow, but the most desirable time was at the beginning of the main flow, when there was little danger of rol>bing. “The best method of treatment is the AlcEvoy, or shake method,” he explained. “If a hive is weak, the safest way to treat it is ±o. burn. bees, .combs, and .the hive by fire.' When possible, treatment should be carried out in the evening, when the bees are not living. AAhen Hives arc in close proximity to those about to be treated, their entrance should be closed for safety, .so that no bees from ihe diseased hives can gain admission ; it also stops robbing. Prepare a set of frames with a starter, which is a strip of foundation, then place these frames into an emptv super ready to receive the bees. Remove the. diseased hive aside and places the prepared !>ox on.- the old stand. Then remove the diseased combs with adhering bees ony by one, and brush into the box ert *- taining the starters. All diseased combs should be put into a spare ■hive body, and covered over as soon as possible; then remove every portion. of diseased combs, ■ out of reach of the begs. In throe or four days’ time the frames containiiiu' the starters, also hive body and bottom beard are removed and a new bottom beard and super with frames of full sheets of foundation nut in its place; then brush off the bees from the starters into the new hive as quickly as possible. This done, the hive should be‘dean. The reason, for leaving bees on strips of foundation for three or four days is.so that they will use any'honey they have in their sacs in building wax and when shifted the next time on to full, sheets of foundation. they Avill have to start afresh. Lf this treatment is carried out proper ly and the beekeeper does not leave any diseased honey or materials lying about; ho should be able to rid His apiary of disease. Diseased combs, if not too badly .infected, may lie melted into wax, otherwise t hev and their frames'should be l>uyncd, and the ashes buried. The hives and tools used in connection with “five ' treatment should lm boiled in’a .strong solution of caustic soda and water. ■ ■“in .conclusion i would recommend anybodv .taking swarms tb leave them in a l.'ox for 'about four days before shaking into their new homo. This will act "as a treatment should the swarm have come from x a .diseased hive or., apiary. Whom a beekeeper has any suspicious of disease. 1 would strongly advise him to get in touch Avith" the apiary inspector for the district:”- ' \ ’ f. At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Barry- was accorded a. hearty vote oF thanks.