H.B. HONEY HARVEST

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 100, 8 April 1936, Page 10

H.B. HONEY HARVEST

Flavour Better, Output Lower PAST SEASON REVIEWED The flavour of the honey produced in Hawke’s Bay for the season just ended is superior to that gathered for many season’s past. The output, however, is below that of the average season, whish is attributed by Mr. L. Riesterer, Apiary Instructor, to the dnfavourable weather conditions experienced, which were the worst that the beekeepers of Hawke’s Bay have had to contend with for many years. During last spring, Mr Riesterer explains, bees consumed a greater amount of hive stores than usual. Owing to the spring flow of nectar, which had been regarded as being in a supply that could be relied upon, being a complete failure, a great amount of feeding with sugar syrup had to be carried out. At that time the bees cased up in their brood-rearing, which resulted in the colony strength being only fair to meet the main flow of nectar, and In consequence had a bearing on the actual seasonal returns. With the adverse weather conditions which prevailed throughout the summer the bees were unable to take a full advantage of what nectar there was offering. This resulted in a poorer output than was at first anticipated. Nevertheless, the fact that the bees did not store any honey from early sources, the quality of this season’s output has been raised. This, taken into account with the poor returns that are general with other districts in New Zealand, tho beekeeper of Hawke’s Bay should experience no difficulty in marketing their produce. Mr Riesterer advises that beekeepers should take advantage of the fine weather to remove surplus remains of honey from the hives as difficulty would bo experienced in its extraction once tho colder weather set In. If trouble should be experienced in straining the heney should bo heated slightly, which would also servo the purpose of helping the impurities to rise to the toil and so be removed by skimming. Touehing ou the health of hives generally, Mr Riesterer said that the position regarding disease in the district remained satisfactory. At the same time beekeepers should treat immediately any diseased hives in the apiary and so prevent them from going into winter quarters in such a condition. In carrying out this work every care should bo exercised to keep honey and Lee material kept under cover to prevent any likelihood of spreading foulbrood. Keeping bees from robbing was also important, as it was always n source of danger in connection with disease. In the case of feeding hives which have been treated for disease, honey from a cleaii source could be given in

place of sugar syrup. Where it was found necessary to use syrup for diseased hives or for others that may have been extracted too closely, this should bo done without delay in order that the bees should be left entirely alone during the winter months.