Bumper Year For Honey

Northern Advocate, 11 March 1948, Page 5

Bumper Year For Honey

Apiarists in Northland have experienced a record season, with a prolonged yield of tree and clover honey. Mr F. D. White, an apiarist, of Three Mile Bush. Whangarei, said that the absence of high winds and the reasonable amount of rain spread over the hot months, were contributing factors to the yield. There was little loss of life among the bees working in the 'moderate winds, and the secretion of nectar from clover and other flower sources was steady. Pohutukavvas and tea-tree flowered well and contributed to the yield. Mr White did not consider that new pasture had anything to do with the crop, as there was very little new land broken in in Northland. and what there was was gum-land, which did not yield well from a bee-keeper’s point of view. SHORTAGES OVERCOME There had been some shortage of wax foundation, as the floor and furniture polish firms took most of the raw material. This, however, had little effect on the yield, as experienced apiarists could keep ahead of .the bees, and make do with considerably smaller quantities of wax without any appreciable production loss. Wooden frames' were in fair supply, although it was necessary to order the season’s supply well ahead. Pinus insignus was used considerably for these frames in place of kahikatea, which is in short supply. There is no taste from pinus wood, as the bees seal it over if there is any smell of gum. Mr White said that he expected next season to be a good one also, as the grasses had had a chance to get well established.

Pastures that had been knocked back by a drought did not yield as well the next year, even though the rain might be heavy. The factor of tree honey from pohutukawa and tfca tree blossoms could not be predicted as there was always a fluctuation in the blooms of these trees.

SURPLUS FOR BRITAIN The manager of the Internal Marketing Division (Mr H. F. Stoupe) said that leaders of the industry had stated that they expected to be able to supply the department with 400 tons of honey this season.

After hospitals and similar institutions had been supplied it was hoped that 200 tons could be :>3nt to the United Kingdom. Only 40 tons had been sent during the last two years, when poor crops had been obtained. Before the war as much as 460 tons of honey had been exported annually, and it was hoped to obtain as much as possible to relieve the food shortage. The bumper season would have little effect on the average householder, as the surplus not exported or handled by the Internal Marketing Division would be sold in country stores.