THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3034, 8 May 1912, Page 14

THE APIARY.

By J. A.

WINTERING

Last week, under the above heading, we wrote in a general way of the need of giving proper attention to the subject of wintering. This week we wish to point out some of the essentials, and first amongst these we place

SUFFICIENT STORES

On this subject most of our text-books advocate giving each colony from 201 b to 301 b. Our experience makes us increase thifl amount to from 301 b to 401 b. In our location colonies so provided will not give their owner any anxiety as to their condition in the spring. With the smaller supply, unless the spring is very favourable, he must be watchful, and' be prepared to feed in case of a prolonged spell of wet weather. Our opinion in this matter is in line with "Beekeeper's," as given in his "New Zealand Farmer" for May. He says: "The amount of food required to see a colony through the winter and early spring months until there is sufficient nectar to be gathered to keep the bees going varies to the extent of a few pounds, according to the forage in the district. In one where there is little else than clover, 351 b of food will be required; but in others, where there are plenty of willows, fruit trees, and other spring forage besides clover, 301 b will be ample, though any over the above quantities can do no harm." Clover, of course, is not spring forage. In the south we cannot get a living on it before about the middle of December as a rule. Unless other forare is available, therefore, the winter stores must do duty until the clover i 6 available; consequently in those locations a larger quantity is required. Beekeepers in some parts of the Edendale Plain, or in any location too far distant for the bees to "reach native bush, will quite understand this. We must reckon on a very much larger consumption of food after the brood-rearing starts in the spring than takes place during the partially dormant months of the winter. Probably the amount consumed is trebled after August, so that it is then that he poorly-supplied colony is in danger. We would not, however, advise anyone whose colonies have 201 b of fcod to at this time add anything to them. It is too cold now, and except where absolutely necessary we prefer to wait until spring. But if we want a profitable season it must be done then. It is suicidal to block the aueen from laying when the later harvest depends entirely on the spring-reared young bees. Our ideal colonv is one with. 401 b of honey in March, and that is the / month that in the south we thank it is best to fix up for the winter. If any feeding has to be done now it should be with two of sugar to one of water syruij fed inside, and fed warm and quickly. Another of the essentials of good wintering is COMFORT. Those who have read our notes in the past know that we have always advocated a free use of nails in putting up our boxes. We want them snug and tight. Our mat is made from ordinary sacking taken mostly from second-hand sacks. As soon as holes appear in the mats we use them for smoker fuel. These mats we want to fit closely, so that there will be no draught. And then — and this is very important—the roof should

be -watertight. It is almost impossible with any amount of painting to prevent our white pine roofs from cracking with the sun in the summer time. We have tried a good many ways to keep the roofs watertight, and the plan we now adopt as being best is to cover each roof with Neponset paper. It lasts bettor than calico painted', and is waterproof, is easily put on, and requires no paint.