HORSES AND BEES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 December 1924, Page 16

HORSES AND BEES.

PROTECTION OF HORSES. TREATMENT IF ATTACKED. Dealing with this subject, ah interesting article, which merits the attention of owners of horses or drivers working teams wherever bees are likely to be ' encountered, appeared in the New Zealand Fruitgrower and Apiarist of. November 17. Mr. A. R. Bates, of Kaponga, has supplied ns with a copy of the article, which, with due acknowledgment to the above-named journal, we reprint hereunder: The cases reported of horses having been stung to death by bees reveal the need of farmers generally having some knowledge of the means of prevention of further episodes of the kind. Not only alongside an apiary ig the trouble likely to occur, but in most unexpected places. Swarms have frequently been encountered by a team while reaping a paddock of wheat, while many have had the experience of meeting a swarm while driving along a road. While bees seldom sting when on their first flight after leaving the hive, they become exceedingly vicious should they be disturbed a. few hours after settling, as by that time they have consumed part of the honey carried from their hives, and are free to use their weapons. One can easily imagine the effect on a team of horses breaking into a cluster of bees at that stage. Only a cool head on the part of the driver and quickness in releasing the team can avert disaster.

The sensitiveness of the insects is remarkably keen. Bushmen well know the effects of the first few strokes of the axe at the foot of a; “bee tree,” and the thud of horses’ hoofs near an apiary will bring out the scouts to the entrance to investigate the cause and scent danger. Should their first warnings not be heeded by the intruder, then trouble will follow. The general run of farmers are losing the sense of fear by getting a better understanding of when it is safe to do horse work near the bee farms. The immense advantage of an apiary on the farm is being realised more every year, not only to the orchards, but in the increase of the clover crops. Anyone has -only to notice the clover growth near apiaries of a few year’s, standing to realise this value, and the farmers are arranging for any horse work to be carried out on dull days, or after the bees have settled down for the night, giving the beekeepers every assistance in their power rather than have to attend bees themselves with the accompaniment of stings, inspectors, or bee diseases. Should the horses be attacked, much suffering and loss of life can be prevented. The sensitory nerve of the horse is exceedingly keen, any shock or pain reacting on the heart. All lovers of the amimals realise the value of a firm, kind voice in cases of'fear, and especially i s this required in dealing with them among bees., Of course, when the trouble arises, no time should be lost in releasing them, and if badly stung, a good gallop round the paddock will relax the tension on the heart. Should a supply of hot water not be available a thorough wash down in cold is advisable. Motor spirits or ammonia are equally good, and will relieve the pain. A handful of salt put in the mouth has been proved a valuable remedy. The pain D’om a sting is most severe during the first few minutes, hence the need of quick action with what remedy is available. Stines should be scraped out. and not pulled with the fingers, as the Poison is driven in by the latter method A light, coloured horse cloth should be used when work must be done d"rir\g the flight time, and especially should some covering be put oyer the head < and neck. The tossings of a horse’s mane will anger bees as quickly as anything known, vet where the bees and horses are accustomed to each other little notice is taken, as is often proved bv a pony be : ng kept in the bee vard to keen down the grass Though the pony may be frequently stung, there is no excitement, and they quickly learn to choose the right time for nibbling round the entrance of the hives or keeping at a safe distance v!mn v«ed he. Where average care is taken j 9 seldom any trouble with horses being stung, while the advantage to hr gained, rparf- altogether from the Voney greatly outweighs the trouble of necessary precautions.