PROFITABLE SIDELINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 14 March 1936, Page 6

PROFITABLE SIDELINE

BEEKEEPING IN THE NELSON PROVINCE

SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES OUTLINED

Many disparaging tilings are frequently said of Nelson as a beekeeping Province. Admittedly there are many natural phenomena which mark* out the Nelson Province as anything but ideal as a commercial lioiiev-produeiiig district; but Mr G. F. Page (apiary Instructor) who visited Nelson this week, is confident that with the use of methods adapted to the local conditions, a profitable side-line can he made from bees in Nelson; and if developed along the right, lines, a very valuable asset to the district, Mr Page said it would be interesting to review the possibilities, as well as some of the disadvantages, and note the progress which has •licet: made in recent years in the beekeeping of this Province. NELSON CLOVER One of the most striking features in Nelson this season was the abundance of clover in bloom in all pastures, and possible- of the heavier rainfall than usual, it was in bloom over a inueli longer neriod ; hut Mr Pngp said lie must admit that in suite of this : t was only in certain isolated districts that the bees were deriving iis muHi benefit from this source as would, i>e expected. H was particularly noticeable that on tiie plains, whei'a there was :• light shingle subsoil, there wag comparatively little nectar being obtained from the clover: and in practically all the cases where heavy crops of clover honey were being obtained were in districts with a stiff heavy sub-soil. Whilst these observations are hardly definite enough to come to any conclusion. I

think it raises a snfßcient.lv interesting point to be worthy of further investigation, as any such definite information might quite easily he the determining factor in deciding whether any' district was suitable for beekeeping or not.

INCREASED AREA OF LUCERNE

It was also interesting and pleasing to notice the increased areas of Lucerne, although much of it was of little value to the bees, for as far as it was possible to judge only a small proportion of the area was being saved for seed, however the areas in flower which 1 had the opportunity of examining were being worked freely by honey bees; this should speak well for the possibilities of this country for seeding Lucerne and with advantage to the beekeepers. Lucerne which is an exceptionally deep rooting plant, should not be affected by the nature of the sub-soil to the same extent as clover lias all the appearance of being: and the plains will probably prove quite suitable country for seeding Lucerne. Another source of nectar which I

noticed more in prominence this season than on previous seasons was Lotus ma•jor. This grass thrives best in damp or wet places and it was probably due to the heavy rainfall of this season which was responsible for its being so much in evidence. Lotus major is a good forage for stock and cherished by farmers as such. It is a particularly strong grower and under suitable conditions tends to crowd out'other grasses. It is a valuable honey plant producing a palatable amber honey. There are two weeds in Nelson which have made rapid progress during the past few years, which.,,!- consider are destined to have a very considerable effect on the Nelson honey, they are Vipers Gugloss and Pennyroyal. The first, Vipers Bugloss, a blue flowering furry leafed plant very prevalent in the Marlborough Province, causing considerable inconvenience to the people cropping there. It is a usually found in dry river beds from where it spreads very rapidly. It is a prolific producer of nectar even in the driest of seasons. The honey is palatable and comparatively light in colour; so that whilst it is an unwelcome visitor to anv district, it can he the source of considerable profit to the beekeepers. The second, Pennyroyal, a weed commonly found throughout Nelson, and which I understand lias been well established there for many years, ( is rt small blue flowering plant of the “Mentha” family, which includes Peppermint and mint. It grows oil most low lying country and usually favours moist, well watered spots. It is said to he harmful to stock, hut I have never heard of a case where the credited harm could he definitely laid to this source, and T would judge that unless the stock was starved on to it they would not voluntarily graze ou it. Pennyroyal secretes nectar freely which is gathered by the bees late in the season, producing a honev which is dark in colour and generally unpopular. The honev like the ulant has a strong, and to me a decidedly unpleasant smell. Tf, after vou have smelt it you ear be persuaded to taste it, you will find it unexpectedly mild, altho ,ir rh more flavour than most honeys. The other, members of this family of plants pr/idiirN a- similar honev. Although this weed causes a lot of trouble to many beekeepers. the fact that it. flowers- so late in the season gives an opportunity of keeping this lionc.v separate from the main crop, and either taken off for sale to those people bind there ave some! who have a particular taste for this or leave it on th° hives frowinter, allowing- von to rob a httlc closer at the earlier extraction. IMPROVED HANDLING OF BEES. “During the six to seven rears Dia< I have been visiting the Nelson Province it lias been with great satisfaclion that I liave witnessed the adoption of improved methods m handling lay by the , majority of beekeepers. This together with a general improvement in the strain and type of bees kept, lias done much to raise the standard of beekeeping. assure to the apiarists paying rrops and reduce the cost of production. “An improvement which is very marked and which is most generally appreciated, is tHe treatment and packing of honev after it Daves the extractor, and the wrapping of section honev in celopliane paper, a practice adopted hv practically all the beekeepers producing this class of honey. This side of the bus. iness is most likely to please the consumer and re-act with benefit to the. honev producers, n’.so - creating a very much higher standard for the industry. BEE PESTS

■j think it 1? row fairly well known liv most neonle. that bees in wifii other classes of stock, suffer the ravages' ot nests and diseases. If i« fortunate that none of these lure anv detrimen'al effect on honey for hum-"" consumption. hut thev can cause very considerable loss to the bcekecners. “Mv close assnelWon with tins >-- -!e of beekeeping in Nelson affords p’" the opportunity of vKovuig "nth gvetiP cation, and with the hope Ih n t to some small degree my efforts may he partly responsible, at tbe satisfactory nosHr" io-da-r The progress made in combating disease over tbe past six years has far exceeded by expectations; lam con.

ficlont that if the necessary care is exer. cised by beekeepeis in adopting precautionary measures, as well as taking the correct measures to combat- disease promptly as soon as it makes its appearance ; in a- few years the Nelson beekeepers might well be able to look back at troubles from this source as a tiling of tbe past, ' ‘ NELSON’S POSSIBILITIES -.“There are possibilities in th„- development of beekeeping, in' the- Nelson Province if carried out along the right lines. The districts in Nelson suitable, for the nrodiietion of a standard of extracted honey payable for export, are limited. In most districts a certain amount of suitable honey would be obtained. but not a sufficient quantity to warrant the development of in extensive plant for extracted honey. There are. however, a few districts, seme vet rntr’ed, which would I think be suitable for the production of extracted honey. “ I consider that the brightest prospects for the Nelson Kvtkeerers l'"i in the »rod action of section lionev. To date all the section honey produced in Nelson has been sold locally in New Zealand Quite naturally there is not a very big demand and the market, soon readies saturation point, with the result that low prices frequently prevail. The export of section honey from New Zealand lias been successfully practiced for a number of veers, and the Government has set a standard which the sections must attain, and they must also be packed in accordance with requirements drawn up to ensure their safe transit in undamaged condition. All sections have to be examined by a grader before being shipped. Normally the Nelson honey does not readily granulate in the combs. This would be a strong po ; nt ir favour of its suitability for export; and the season is sudi that, if exported. the sections should arrive in Great Britain when the market would Ho most likelv comparatively clear of -Uass of honev. and the possibility of high prices good. ORGANISATION NEEDED “I consider that one of the biggest hand’-ans to fba development of this ex--O'-c c. f r ort-'on bonev from Nelson, ir the la-k cf '”'v form of organisation 'n’r’i’-i the Pr<n-r.them selves.' c ’-di j>m ovg-"iisa‘ ioo Nelson con l ' l do dc""’op 0 V possible nn-1 profitable o”t]ef for the honey, as well "s oxtimd the W«wl«dg«i of ip.nvo-’>' f | beekeeping methods,” concluded Mr Page.