THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 12

THE APIARY.

(By J.A.)

In the August number of the New Zealand Farmer, Mr Hopkins, in his notes of the conference, writes thus: “ Section 3, concerning the annual membership subscription fees, is the most important move made, and one that I have been endeavouring to bring about for years past. It is needless to say I am entirely in agreement with its principles,- as every commercial beekeeper must be who givi-s me matter the least thought. Hitherto wc have formed district beekeepers’ associations, and failed to provide them with sufficient funds to carry out the objects fa: which they were formed ; and what has been the consequence? They have been crippled from the start and could do noriiing. The paltry sums paid in have been practically thrown away, us they wore not sufficient to accomplish anything of a practical nature. Instead of making good pi ogress from their formation, the majority of our associations have either stood still or gone backwards: paradoxical as it may seem, to remain stationary in those progressive times is to fall behind.

'• The only question is, whether beekeepers will cure to join boih the national and their district associations, which would mean paying two annual subscriptions, less one-fourth of their district fees. Supposing, for instance, a district association becomes a branch of the National Association (which they should all be),- and the annual subscription in the former is the same as that adopted in the national, which is absolutely needed to provide working funds, then the payment would work out as follows: —A member with from 50 to 100 colonies would pay to his local association 15s as his annual fee, and 15s less onequarter (2s Bd' as his annual contribution to the national, amounting to 11s 3d, or a total of £l 6s 3d per annum. Another member owning any number between 100 and 200 would have to pay on the same scale £1 15s, and for every 100 colonies additional 3? 9d. so that extensive beekeepers like Mr Benz. of Masterton, and Hutchinson Bros , Waikato, who own about 1000 colonies or over as members of their district branches ol the National Association would have to pay as annual fees on the above number £5 ss. v '‘Though I am an advocate of largelyincreased fees, I feel sure that ihe scale of double fe<s adopted ''ill have a detrimental efbet ou the establishment or branches to the National Association, and, without strong branches 1 cannot see how the National Association will succeed. In my advocacy of increased fees 1 have always suggested a sliding scale up to a certain sum as a maximum fee, and I still think this is the wisest plan. It is no use making the fees such as will be likely to prevent the majority of beekeeper- from joining the associations. Better by far keep the fees within reasonable limits, so as to encourage more beekeepers to join the associations, and make up the additional funds in that way.’’ In thus writing Mr Hopkins has failed to grasp the position ns it, is generally understood and intended. The intention is that the fee charged by the National Association should admit to membership of V>oth national and local branch, one-fourth of the feee being returned to the branch for local expenditure. Were it otherwise the double fee would, as Mr Hopkins says, prove a serious bar to membership. We wish to particularly draw beekeepers’ attention to this, as, more than anything else, we want members. The expectation is—and we think it is likely to bo fulfilled —that the

“ National ” will become so important to beekeepers that they cannot afford but to become members. LOCAL BRANCHES.

Thu relation of the branch association to

the National Association is going to be a very important one. As yet, of course, things have only been very crudely worked out. Wc do not, however, feel we overstate the position when we say that the very existence of the “ National ” will depend on the vitality of the branches. Section 4 of the constitution deals with branches thus; “Local branches of the association may be formed wherever there are seven members of the association desirous of forming a branch. The secretarytreasurer snail provide the local branch with reports of the mootings of the executive, pamphlets, and other printed matter which may be published from time to time. “ (a) It is specially provided that any existing beekeepers’ association may automatically become a. local branch of the national by the passing of a formal resolution adojiting the national constitution, subject to the provisions of clause 3. " (b) When a local branch is formed, the local secretary shall notify the general secretary-treasurer of the formation of the branch, and the general secretary-treasurer shall pay one-quarter of the local branch members’ fees annually to the secretary of the branch.” From this it will be seen that wherever seven members of the National Association can get into touch with one another they can form a branch, and receive back .onefourth of their fees for local purposes, and also receive from the general secretary a digest of the business coming before the executive as well as all printed matter. This will enable branches to keep in touch with and to influence the work of the National Association. It is not too much to say that this year —one which will be made up largely of beginnings—will be a very important one in the history of the National Association, and it is therefore urgent that till branches should as speedily as possible get into line, and that wherever now branches can be formed it should be done as early as possible. HONEY-CROP PROSPECTS. The Director of Orchards, Gardens, and Apiaries Division has received the following reports on the honey-crop prospects from the apiary instructors: Auckland. —There is little change since last report, prices obtained being about the same for both honey and beeswax. Many beekeepers are now more hopeful of the future prospects of the industry in New Zealand, owing to the lessening of foul brood and the prospects of an export trade being opened up, and they are contemplating increasing their apiaries during the coming spring.—G. V. Wcstbrookc. Wellington.—The recent shipments of honey to England have been instrumental in keeping local prices on a firm basis. The prices given in last month’s Journal still hold good.—F. A. Jacobson. Christchurch. —Several beekeepers have sold the whole of their crop. Prices in Christchurch arc much about the same —-viz., 3d to 4d. In the Marlborough district--Bulk, 4d; small 5d to fid. Fresh lots are coming to hand to be graded for export. It is anticipated before long to have word from England concerning the first consignment despatched in May.—E. Bowman. Dunedin - The conditions prevailing last month arc unaltered. Pat honey is coming forward steadily, and is in good demand. Sections arc scarce. Prices are firm.E. A. Earp. —Journal of Agriculture. SPRING MAN A GEMENT. Caution Regarding Early Manipulation.— (By Chas. H. Cargo.) When I began beekeeping it was with a clear board—no designs of the art, good, bad, or indifferent, clouded my views. I had no knowledge of either the box hive, Langstroth hive, Danzenbaker hive, nor any other hive. Viewing my assets in this light, I discovered that this negative fact was of real value, as 1 was not called upon to part with preconceived notions, and could listen to the pro and con of argument. The best results m a practical way arc obtained from methods which have been put into practice by the individual beekeeper himself, and with which lie has gained experience. spelled with a rather large “ ex " too. The first thought in returning springtime is, ' How are the bees?” Well, wo must see. No, don’t. In taking this first walk among the bets we will imagine a large sign ever hanging in front of us on which wo sec the words. “Be careful.” The first visit may well bo confined to changing bottoms for clean ones, and levelling up all the hives to a true level sidewise, and an examination of a few hives throughout the apiary only. An axiom comes in to explain this, and it is handy all the year:

“ Never disturb boot without brood.” lines without brood sometimes leave their hive; and in one case hoes in an upper brood chamber left their hive while it was set aside a few moments, and attempted to return to their regular entrance below, and were killed. Some reason to bo a woe bit careful! I believe the liens nnnd to bo stirred tip to their work, but it is to bo done gently. One season 1 found a hive being robbed. The robbers wore trapped, and I thought it was just the thing; hut, alas! I found later T had rnitud another colony as well as the one robbed. Bo sure you know the whole trick before going too far.

In a day or two wo go to the yard again, and with more confidence if fair weather has intervened. Hives are now opened and brood-nests hast dy examined and contracted wherever necessary, and the hives closed. The condition in winch th.- hoes are found is left pencilled on the side of the hive. The season’s work now swings out in full view before us, and tinnotes left on the hive become our chart to study and ponder over. What method shall be pursued, and what harvest is to be sought? Market conditions and flora both tiro to be considered. Early queens arc to be raised or bought, and the extent of increase fixed. Swarming is to be provided against by proper management, and bees must be watched closely to prevent heavy injury from orchard spraying The National Beekeepers’ Association should test out a case of intentional poisoning under our present laws against some blossom-sprayer, so as to define clearly the right to put out poison on blossoms, whether bees are known to be kept within a reasonable distance or not. No new law is needed to cover such cases, but a precedent ought to be established. I doubt if it is necessary even to prove that any bees were killed. Proof of the spraying and its poison on the blossoms is usually sufficient. That is, prove that honey-bees visit apple blossoms, and (bat such blossoms were intentionally poisoned. How would a very small en-

trance do for the week of applc-spraving, to save brood '!

Beginners should not treat their bees as so many treat their horses—turning them into a field but never looking over the fence to see if any grass is there. Examine your flora. Know it. Fill in the gaps as best you can. Even a very small flow is then of increased value. Raise any thing, or see that someone else raises it near you. Alsike clover, sweet clover, buckwheat, are standard. A smaL patch of sweet clover is of great worth to a whole apiary for a fall flow.—Gleanings.