BEES IN ICE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume VL, Issue 3132, 9 February 1934, Page 3

BEES IN ICE.

METHOD OF TRANSPORT. SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA. A novel method of transporting hives of bees, by packing them in ice in a railway truck, has been employed with success by Mr E. E. Abram, a prominent New South Wales apiarist. The journey was from Sandy Hollow siding (near Merriwa) to a district on the far South Coast furnishing ample honey flora, that is trees yielding adequate nectar. The distance, 400 miles, Was completed in 24 hours. The number of hives moved was 250, and on the basis of an average weight of 101 b. of bees to the hive and 4500 bees to the pound, lli million bees were transported. There had been practically a complete failure of blossom during the season, and so scarce did nectar become in the environment surrounding Mr Abram’s apiary, that ultimately he had to decide whether to make artificial provision for the bees —a costly undertaking with so many hives—or risk loss during transportation. Deaths through overheating in transit are very heavy during the summer months, and in cases whole consignments have been killed. Forced to make a move, Mr Abram hit upon the original scheme of dispatching the bees in a chamber of ice. He, therefore, systematically ar- ' ranged 225 hives, containing Italian and Camiolan bees, in a bogie louvre van. A ton of ice in blocks, which were packed in sawdust in bags, was then carefully adjusted around the hives. Good ventilation was allowed,. and, due to the cooling influence of the ice and draught, the bees landed somewhat subdued but in good condition at their destination. Mr Abram was very satisfied with the experiment, and considers the method very sound for moving large quantities of bees during food shortage. To have provided artificial food for his bees would probably have cost him over £2O a week. h N.Z. TEACHER’S SUCCESS Writing to a friend at New Plymouth, Mrs Mary Barak, one time school mastress at Puniho, and mother of Dr Monty Barak, New Zealand Rhodes Scholar, now lecturer in Chemistry at King’s University College, London, states that shortly after arrival in London her daughter was fortunate in securing a position in a London school. The inspectors and school authorities were so pleased with her methods of teaching that they offered her a grant of £lOO if she would train at London’s largest women’s teachers’ college and qualify for a London degree or diploma.