THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 8

THE APIARY.

A WIKDHAM BEE FAltfifiK'ti RfiPOHT. 1 Mr James Allan writes to the Wyndham Farmer as follows: — " When, on April 26 of last year, I gave you a statement of tho re suits I had obtained from my bees for the season 1896-97 I fully intended it should be an annual affair, and that when April ol this year came round I would bo able to give you a still more glowing account for the year 1897-. 98. It did not, however, ' coma off,' anc! for the first time in my beekeeping experience of about 10 years, I have to record something very like a complete failure. The season, from a beekeopor's point of view, was simply de ploiable. The clover was but an indifferent crop, though at one time it was coming ink bloom very nicely ; but tho effect* of the rough weather very soon mado it clisappeai again. My observations lead me to place more reliance for honey on white clover than on any other of our nectar-producing plants; consequently, given a failure in tho clover crop, I do not reckon on a large yield. I am also convinced that in cold weather plant," do not yield nearly so much honey as in mild and warm, weather. I arrive at that conclusion from the fa-et that when during last summer a. solitary stranger, in the shape of a fine day did give us a visit, there was but little movement and life in the beo colonies — a sure sign that there was not much honey in tho field. Farmers have to go out in all weathers ; but bees don't and won't. They will only work when it is warm and tho sun is shinnig ; so that last summer they had but little opportunity. The amount of surplus honey 'taken by me this year was about 22001b. realising about £45, and of wax 681b. for which I re ceivod £5 7s Id— total profit, £50 7s 4d. Against this there is an expenditure of about £20 for supplies, leaving a credit balance oi £30. T have, however, to record a decreased value in my apiary ; the number of colonies is the same— namely, 100 — but T do not con aider them in anything like such good formneither so full of either bees or stores as they were la it year ; consequently where last year I valued them at £140, this year I think £115 is nearer their value relatively. That means a drop of £25, and leaves an actual net bal ance of £5 for the season's re3ults. Against this there is still my labour looking after the bees; that, however, was not nearly so much as it would have been in a season giving plenty of honey. I shall not be surprised to find that in small apiaries, receiving scant attention, the last season has not only given nc honey, but that the bees are gone altogether. It is just in such seasons as last that foul brood makes itself felt to some purpose. — I am, &c, James Allan. " Thistle Bank, August 9, 1898."