THE APIARY

Otago Witness, Issue 3382, 8 January 1919, Page 7

THE APIARY

By J. A.

SOUTHLAND BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual field-day of this association was planned to take place at the apiary of the late Mr Lauri Gardiner, who, until his death, was the secretary of the association. In conversation with Mr Robert Gibb, the president of the association, we learn that it is now intended to hold the meeting at his apiary at Menzies Ferry on the 15th of January. The date is not quite certain at the time we write, but is is unlikely that it will be altered. We will meet this year, feeling very much the loss of our esteemed secretary; and many will feel that his absence takes much of the interest out of the meeting. Had the meeting only been held as an outing for a holiday many of us probably feel that we could have wished that it might have been put off for this year. There are, however, reasons of a business nature whioh make it essential that a meeting of the beekeepers should bo held. Mr Giiling, manager of the Honey Producers' Co-operative Association, will ba present, and it is not unlikely that the directorate of the association will be largely represented. The beekeepers' interest in the future marketing of their product is so much wrapped up in the working and policy of the H.P.A. that they cannot afford to neglect this opportunity of getting into close touch with the.men who are controlling the company. It is more than likely that very soon now the accumulated stocks of last season's honey which have been held for shipment will be got away; up to the present practically nothing has been done; but owing to the liberality 'of the B. and B. Company in making advances on this honey, quite satisfactory prices have been paid to the beekeepers. Just what to do in the matter of supplying the local market is the H.P.A.'s greatest trouble. Some advise leaving it alone and attending exclusively to shipping, and for the time those who advocate this are on a fairly good wioket. We have a guarantee of a price which is at least 50 per cent, better than pre-war prices, for the next three years, and quite probably what is sold on the local market will not net as much as that exported. Under the circumstances self-interest would seem to indicate that it would be the best to leave the local market to find its own leyel, and attend only to shipping. On the other hand, probably a day will come when export prices will be much lower, just as they were in pre-war times, and when we will regret very much if we have failed to cultivate the local market. It will then be much more difficult for us to take up the work successfully. Our policy, as arranged by our directorate at a series of meetings last September, was in favour of beginning the work on the local market now by opening a central depot at both Auckland and Dunedin. Whether the Dunedin end of this work can be started this year will depend a good deal on the position taken up by the Southland beekeepers. We would leave this part of our subject by suggesting that, while in the case of meat and dairy produce, success has been attained by attending solely to shipping and allowing the local market to right itself, what would be our position in the local market with honey for export making 35s to 45s per cwt, as in pre-war times? Manifestly the righting would be downwards, and our industry would decline. To our mind we should not only attend to supplying, but also to developing our local market. In all probability the technical part of our bee-work will find a prominent place on field oay. The demonstration and the conversation which follows in connection with, every phase of beekeeping at the back of a beehive is always, and especially to beginners, a very valuable means of education. We have not heard who are going to lead in these demonstrations. It is always an advantage to have one or two leading beekeepers from a distance, it gives freshness to the demonstration as well as an increased' interest. Not the least important part of the fieldday work is the help given by the officers of the Apiaries Department. Mr Earp has always something interesting to say, and we may expect that he will give a quite important help in. the work of the meeting. His hints with regard to packing honey for grading and for export are of unique value because of his experience as a grader. One and not the least advantage in attending this meeting is that it is being; held in a commercial apiary, up to date in all its appointments, and conducted after all the most modern and labour-saving methods. Mr Gibb is naturally a naturalist ; he is fond of all kinds of fleas and bugs and creeping things generally, and also of plant life, and to, him beekeeping comes as a matter of course. He has also another great advantage in this, that Mrs Gibb is as much—probably more-—interested in the bees ihan her husband. Now, to every beekeeper who reads this we' say don't miss this field-day. You will be welcomed, and you will make friends who will remain friends for years afterwards. The testimony of the writer is that he has formed more friendships throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion through beekeeping than in any other way. There is hardly a district throughout the Dominion in which some beekeeping friend would be found to extend a ready welcome. THE WEATHER.

Though somewhat more favourable still, the weather leaves much to be desired. Our new colonies at Roslyn bush have found it difficult to get a start, and consequently we have had to feed. Taking advantage of the quiet in apiary work, we are taking a run home for the New Year. It is a long, tiresome journey for a week's holiday; but important duties are calling, we hope to be back in the apiary about the 10th or 12th of January. We hear that South Canterbury is having a good run just now, and that extracting will probably begin very soon. Mr Harry Brickell tells me that in his apiaries honey is being sealed up rapidly, while the clover is at its best. In the south clover is coming rapidly now, and, given a spell of milder weather. wo may expect to follow Temuka's- lead very soon. We wish our beekeepers a prosperous 1919, and hope that, in common with others in other industries, it may mark the coming of a new era for our industry-.