THE HONEY CROP.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 118, 16 May 1912, Page 6

THE HONEY CROP.

BAD YEAR FOR APIARISTS

The reports furnished by apiary instructors on the prospects of the season's honey crop show that on. the whole the yield has been a pooKjoiie throughout the Dominion; This is ian industry that has made steady growth in recent years.and in normal seasons the supply has been in excess of the local demand1, so much so that' apiarists have been preparing to build up an export trade with England to dispose of ,the surplus. Trial shipments have been mad© with satisfactory results both regarding prices received and the market reports, which speak highly of the quality and flavour of the New Zealand article. At present, however_, there seems little likelihood that there will be any great quantity of honey available for export this year. The shortage is attributed to the continued unsettled weather preventing the bees from working, and in some districts it was even found necessary to feed the bees to keep them from starving. There will be a great many small farmers who have recently extended their apiaries and installed modern hives who will be ■disappointed at this early set-back to their enterprise. The cooperative movements for marketing that have been in progress will also not be useful to the extent that the promoters anticipated. However, ,the comparative failure of one season's yield of honey should not dishearten apiarists altogether, for. the circumstances that have been instrumental in preventing complete success this year have been beyond their power to prevent. In all branches of rural industry weather peculiarities are a determining factor, and although non-success has been the portion of' many /this season, there is justi the same possibility that every circumstance will be a favorable one; for a record yield next year. It is the average returns over a number of seasons that must be taken as a basis for calculating the value of an industry of this kind, and there appears to be abundant.evidence that .those who Bavd followed ■'■■' bee-farming, either alone or in conjunction with! other outdoor^ pursuits, are satisfied that the business is worth while.

While New Zealand apiarists are lamenting the poor season for honey yields, their Australian brethren- are rejoicing in the fact that th«y hare had a--record year of production. As a result .of the abnormal season Australian stocks have been accumulating since' December, and at the present time the market in Sydney is glutted. Notwithstanding1 the over supply, it is stated that a considerable portion of the honey is dark in color, which detracts from its value for household purposes. Transparent or "water white" samples, containing .good, body and flavor, are comparatively scarce on the Sydney market.