BEES AND HONEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19062, 6 July 1925, Page 13

BEES AND HONEY.

WORK FOR JULY. < ATTENTION TO BOXES.* ■ ' i • ; NECESSITY FOR WARMTH. * ,) ' •' ; BY APIS. The ,■ instructions given in detail last month are entirely applicable for this month, and I may only add that extra care should bo exercised in following the instructions in regard to removing all top boxes that are only scantily occupied, in order to conserve the natural warmth l of the bees, as breeding starts again in the second half ,of the month. Rather than repeat what has already been said, it will be" more interesting to give some items that are now interesting the beekeeping world. - - ' . ■ ' ' * The radial extractor is quite a new departure in honey extractors. Instead of tho combs of honey being placed in wire baskets which lie as it were around the sides of the extractor cylinder, the combs, without . baskets; radiate from the centre, and it is claimed that the honey in both sides is extracted at the same time, whereas in the ordinary extractors the baskets with their combs. must. be reversed at least twice to complete the extraction. If tho invention proves a success under all conditions, it will be of immense value to the beekeeping industry, in fact, it will revolutionise tho work of extracting in time and expense saved. >At a venture, I would estimate that in an ordinary tangential four-comb extractor there is'room in the radial for 20 combs. The statistics of the Province of Quebec (L'Abeille February number), shows that there were 7417 beekeepers with 89,830 hives in 1924 (6334 of which wero fixed-comb hives). The total value of the industry for that year was over 2,500,003 dollars. This appears to bo a record, 1921-1922 being the only other year exceeding 2,000,000 dollars. Mote extracted honey and less sections are produced than was formerly the case. ' - A Veteran Beekeeper. Dr. E. F. Phillips, who was formerly m charge of apiculture throughout the United States of America, but is now Professor of Apiculture at the Cornell University, U.B.A, had his students compile the beekeeping biography of some of the • world's leaden in the beekeping industry. Seven were, chosen fbr the first half-year term, and among these Mr. Isaac Hopkin's beiskeeping biography appears, its compilation being quite unknown to him until, he received a printed copy of the seven. They comprise Francois Hnber, L. L. Langstroth, Moses Quirtbv, Charles Dadant, C. C. Mill«r, A I-' Root, and Isaac • Hopkins. Mr. Hopbine, .'considers it is the greatest compliment he has. ever received during his beekeeping career; at the same time he thinks he has been more than favoured by being associated with men of such extraordinary . ability in the bee world as those named. He happens to be the only one out of the seven now alive. Pollination o! the Pear. > Mr. • John H. Lovel, writing in the American Fruitgrower, explains how it was ascertained that the Bartlett pears are not good self-fertilisers. He writes "Most varieties of pear trees are largely or partly self-sterile, i.e., they remain barren unless pollinated with pollen, from a different variety of pear. Even the selffertile varieties in the long run appear to yield more and better fruit when crosspollinated." "At least one hive of bees in each quarter acre is necessary for the proper pollination of the flowers. I had under observation a medium-sized pear tree in full bloom- for an hour. and a quarter, but during this time saw no insects except honey-bees, which were very numerous. A, cluster of : seven flowers received eight visits in a quarter of an hour, and two other adjacent dusters, consisting of sixteen flowers, received sixteen - visits.", The foregoing shows the value of hive-bees in the orchard. -' Proclamation to Protect Sees, •In afceordande with his promise to the Ohio State Beekeepers' Association last August, Governor: Donahey issued a prolamation just previous to fruit bloom against the spraying of fruit trees while in blossom. He pointed out that this is • destructive to ,bees and detrimental to the -distribution of pollen, thns causing TAsi economic locs to : bwkwpcrsi And fruitgrowers! The Governor himself, being a beekeeper, understands the importance of the beekeeping industry as well as the value of honey-bees as pollinators. His proclamation should go a long way toward a better understanding of the importance of \he honey-bee to horticulture and agriculture. The apiary inspection department of New York State, which is under tho control of the Commissioner of Agriculture at Albany,' has definitely decided to adopt the area clean-up method in dealing with American foul brood in that State during the coming year. This is the method which has been in use in for several years. By. this method intensive inspection work is done in certain areas, the ultimate object in viow being tho complete eradication of the disease from tho area. —Gleanings. Honey Analysis. In the first -place it appears astonishing to Britishers living outside Great Britain that those at Home csyn be so prejudiced against everything not of British origin, even when raised within the Empire, It, of course, is well known that according to their estimate no honey in the world can compare in quality with that raised in Britain, and this conservatism is not confirmed to the working classes, but obta:ns among the middlo highly educated class, as witness that very clever lady writer and linguist's (Miss A. D. Betts, 8.5 c.,) statements in the Bee World, for February last. Further on in her article, however, she deals interestingly 'with the analysis of honey as follows:—"Tho satisfactory analysis of honey involves, nearly twenty tests, (all of which, however, aro possibly not necessary in any one case), besides tests with the hydrometer and polarimeter (and preferably also with ' some • form of viscometer). The present writer is not a chemist, but would 'estimate the time required at least a good long day's work; while, in the case of ooe or two of the tests, a delay of from one to four days is necessary in order to allow 'the reaction to be • completed. In addition to the ordinary chemical apparatus, a good balance, and a drying oven,! tho analyst requires a polarimoter. For rough' determinations, the capital sunk in laboratory equipment will not be much, if, at ail below £SO. If really close analysis (such as Would bt desired in cases which may bo taken into a court of law), is desired, £l5O would be nearer the mark. Anti-JTreexlng Mixture. ■ Some eighteen months ago there appeared a good deal . about using cheap honey mixed in water as a non-freezing solution for the radiators in motor cars in cold climates. Some particulars have recently been given in a French bee journal regarding the proper' proportions of honey and water.for the mixture. "For localities where the temperature seldom falls'below zero, use equal parts of honey and .water. For lOdeg. to 15deg. below, use three volumes of honey to two of water, * n d for over 20dag. , two volumes of honey to ono of by bringing the water to the boil, putting in the ncmey, stir and boil till it froths, then add a pint, of, denatured alcohol. or wopd spirit to each three gallons of solution, anil boil for frotn three to five minutes; remove % the scam, and the solution, ia ready, for use."—-L'Abeille in Bee World. * ...