ALLAN'S NURSERY AND APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1630, 26 August 1871, Page 4

ALLAN'S NURSERY AND APIARY.

We visited Mr Allan's nursery grounds at the Forbury a short time since, with a view of seeing the improvements upon that old estate, and especially to see the honey bees at work, as we had been informed that Mr Allan was devoting a good deal of attention to this branch of "native" industry. The situation, which is at the base of a hill covered by dense bush, is a nice snug one for a nursery. Several winding walks are being made through the bush, and these, when completed, and the banks planted with ornamental trees and shrubs, according to the plans shewn us, will no doubt make the place very attractive. On reaching the outside of the bush land, we got into a paddock, which commanded a splendid view of the Forbury Race Course, the Ocean Beach, and along the bay to Dunedin. The Forbury House is a massive structure of Caversham sand-

stone, and is in so dilapidated condition aa to remind one of an old castle of centuries ago. A portion of the walls luw not been roofed over, but the part that has been finished is substantial enough — ■ the timber used inside, which is of native growth, bidding fair to outlast the stone. There were at one time a fine garden and orchard attached to the house, but they had been neglected for years previous to coming into Mr Allan's possession ; so that these improvements have been of little advantage to the present occupant, who is preparing ground for the planting of an orchard of a thousand trees — chieily plums, cherries, pears, and apples, After viewing the grounds, house, fco,, we were attracted by the hum of beps to, a small belt of scrub, and all at once ay a were in the midst of fully twenty swarma of the diligent community. It happened, to be a bright day, for 'the season, an 4 above, before, and all around, was tho merry hum of thd busy bees, as they oanio pouring in from all directions with their honey treasures, and not one of them iui"taking its own little kingdom, as with heavily laden thighs they alighted at their own doorway. Some of the swarms were in glass globes, and we could observe the bees press in and deposit their spoils, and hasten off again, as if their existence depended upon their making the most of every moment of sunshine.

The pleasure of witnessing the sagaoity, industry, and thrift of bees, is enough, in itaelf, to oncourage all who have the tima and opportunity to place a few swarms in their gardens, and the profit attached to. them would amply repay the care. We were informed that several of the hives weighed over one hundred pounds last autumn — a wonderful example of what diligence and perseverance can accomplish. Those we saw were merely covered over with a piece of turf. Their management is so very simple, that the merest tyro may become ;m adept in a short time, the principal care being at swarming season to secure the young swarms — of which there are generally two or three fiom each hive — and place them in a clean box, in a shaded position, facing the north or east. There is, no doubt, far less trouble with bees in this province than in Great Britain, owing to the mildness of the winter,