THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3278, 10 January 1917, Page 7

THE APIARY.

By J. A

A SUMMER SEASON IN A SOUTHERN APIARY. A BEEKEEPER'S DIARY. December 27.—The question of packages for honey is a rather difficult one during war time. Ten-pound tins mean a cost of about Id per lb on tho honey; 21b tins arc pror ortionafcely dearer. Tin packages are therefore very much dearer than they have been in the past. In reality, tho parchment paper is considerably cheaper than any ptrer package, though that, too, is much fearer than it was. It has this advantage also: that the honey is always more readily saleable in that than in any other package. It resembles tho get-up of butter, and appeals more to tho consumer than does tho tin package. It has, however, this drawback: that it requires a roomy honey house to do the work successfully, and a Systematic, method of procedure.- Tho filling of tins is, under ordinary circumstances, a much simpler process. Where, however, there is room, a proper plant, and skilled workers tho parchment is both the quickest and easiest. It is in this way that we put up all our honey for the local market.. What is .shipped goes into 601 b tins. Tho method of dealing with honey when put into parchment is to run it into moulds straight from the extractor vat. In these moulds it is allowed to granulate. Then about tho middle or end of May, when tho honey is quite firm, tho moulds aro taken off, and the honey is cut into lib and £lb, wrapped in two covers of parchment, and boxed for market. The work of cutting and wrapping can bo done by three persons accustomed to the work at the rate of about 2Oolb per hour—about threequarters of a ton per day. The whole systein has this merit also: that it gets rid of tho honey very quickly at extracting time. Each of the moulds holds lewt, and is in itself a small storing tank, tho honey being immediately run into it and stored Out of tho way. To-day's work was making these moulds, nailing them together and running the edges with paraffin wax to prevent leakage. In tho apiary good work was done, as the day was very fine, and the clover is yielding well. Two new colonies were started from swarms.

December 28. —It gets monotonous describing the weather, the days are all aliko fine, and steady work is going on all the time. We have had to postpone quccnrearing operations, as the rush of honey is too great, and every moment of time is required for harvesting. To-day's work was taking off honey in the forenoon, and extracting in the afternoon. We should much enjoy « change to rain for a day or two. It would lengthen tho season which at present, owing to the dry weather, promises to bo a very short one, and it would give Us time to catch up in our work.

December 29 and 30. —.Fine weather still cci.tinucs, and eo far there is no scarcity of nectar. The bees are working very strong, and tho results are good. Visited the Mataura Island apiary and took off Some very fine honey. Three years ago this apiary was wrecked by a flood, and it is only this seaeon that it has fully recovered from tho effects of it. Paid a visit to Mr Gibb at his Menzies' Ferry apiary. He has every A'essel he can get full of honey, and is awaiting anxiously the arrival of tins. Mr Gibb is president of the Southland Beekeepers' Association, and he informed me that the field day meeting of the association is to take place on January 17 at his apiary at Menzies' Ferry. lie is at r resent busy arranging a programme for that day. and hopes to fee a large gathering We pan assure visitors that they will see a right up-to-date extracting plant at work, and that Mr Gibb will spare no effort to show the latest apiary methods. Wc advise beekeepers not to miss this meeting.

December 31. —Damp in the morning with misty showers. An off day for tho bees. January 1. —New Year's Day. Not. enough w_ct_ yesterday to have much effect In maintaining the clover, and to-day it is fi.no again. Bees working well. January 2. —Tn the forenoon the bees did very we!!. .From 8 o'clock until noon honey was going into our scale hive at the rate of lib every 20 minutes. In the afternoon, however, the drying breeze prevented tho flow, and what promised to be a record day fell short. Taken on the whole, tho week ending January 2 lias been all that any beekeeper could desire; it added 76! b to the weight of our scale hive. All work in the apiary except that of taking off and extracting honey is at a standstill. The holidays intervening delayed the work, and now it is necessary to rush to give room.

QUESTIONS. V/. H. Harrison writes:—“(l) What part does the drones play in the hive when they come out—is it only for a fly? (2) Could the hivo work if all drones were killed? (3) How long would one queen live if I killed all queen cells so as to stop swarming? (4) Docs the old queen always come out with the first swarm? If you would kindly answer these questions you would oblige me.”

Reply:— (1) The drone is Hie male bee, and .exists, so far as is known, for one purpose only—the fertilisation of the queen. When they fly it is for th'' purpose of meeting the queen, as fertilisation always takis place when on tho wing. (2) Beekeepers always, strive to keep down the drones as !ar as possible. There will still be plenty of; for fertilisation. (3) About three or tw vears is the natural life of a queen be*, In. v. it is generally considered a good thing hi requecn every two years. (4) Yes. Without her the bees would immediately !'o back. Normally about 8 days after tho irst swarm comes out the first cell will atch, and if no further swarming is inended tho remaining cells will be destroyed. In about five or six day 3 more the young q'.cen will fly to meet the drone. Olio fertilisation cbes for her lifetime. She fiion comrasacfcti hex career as mother in tho hive.

NOVEMBER THOUGHTS. (By Grace Allen.) Poor frosted blossoms, you must miss The grace and beauty of those bowers That spring laid here along tho hills And gladdened with her brimming showers! Yet, no; you aro not even ghosts Of all the myriad April flowers— They are gone— If or ever.

Dear morning-hours, how chill and slow You creep from out tho eastern sky 1 Moro swift you came when from our hill Wo saw Juno dawning—ho and I? Yet you are not tho morning-hours That found us thero and passed us by— They aro gone— Forever,

My bees, how quiet you are grown ! My heart recalls your springtime way— How swift you flashed! —how gay and sweet You made tho blossomed plum one day ! Yet you, alas! aro not the bees That hummed so wiichingly in May— They are gone — Forever.

SCALE HIVE RECORD. For week to January 2. December 2G 1511b Weight extracted 108!b Leaving 43lb December 27—Increase of weight 121b 551b December 28—Increase of weight 61b Glib December 29 —Increase of weight 161b 77lb December 30—Increase of weight 151b 92 lb December 31 —Increase of weight — 921b January 1 —Increase of weight nib 1031b January 2 —Increase of weight 161b 1191b Gain for week 7Glb