THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 9

THE APIARY.

By J. A.

"Boieas with his blasts" is still with us, and am afraid that many beekeepers who began the season with high hopes are feeling somewhat anxious as to results. We have been away from our apiary for more thaa a fortnight, so cannot say how it has fared; but from all. the descriptions wo have had of the weather during that time wa do not expect when we reach them again, tct-morrow (January 17) to find that there has been any movement. There' is this comforts that at the time of writing there is still time for a crop, even for a good crop. Passing through Canterbury yesterday it seemed —especially North Canterbury—too dry for good results in nectar. What one sees from the train, however, is not very reliable data on which to express an opinion. Prom Temuka south all that seems to be wanting to give excellent returns is just temperature—a fortnight of consistent warm weather. It may be some consolation to beekeepers to know that in other lines weather conditions are having just as marked an effect as in beekeeping. Notably is this so in connection with fruit. From one end of the Dominion to the other the complaint is that no fruit is coming in. Many who use fruit freely will look forward 'to a change in the apple season; but there, again, _ tha disappointment will be as great as in that of stone fruits. Weather damage', especially frost, has left us in most districts with hardly any crop at all. Even in Nelson, where the weather is supposed to know fairly well how to behave itself, the crops are light. Under these conditions beekeepers and fruit-growers can condole with each other. SHIPMENT OF HONEY. We called on the B. and D. Co. at Wellington in passing, and were glad to hear that shipping is fast becoming normal again in so far as honey is concerned. .Some 1500 cases have gone out from, the various ports quite recently, and other shipments are expected soon, so that the probability seems to be that the old' honey will be mostly cleared before the new crop is ready for the grading store. This is very satisfactory to the H.P.A., to the B. and D. Co., and will bo to the beekeepers also. It is just a 3 well to not© the fact, however, that this honey is only leaving our shores, and that consequently the final payment, which cannot be made until after the honey ha 3 been realised in the English market, cannot be- expected for quite a considerable time. Owing to the very satisfactory advance made on this honey by the B. and D. Co., there is little or no hardship to the beekeepers in having to wait for the final payment, whioh cannot in all probability be a very largo one. CO-OPERATION. It is a good time to again draw the attention of our beekeepers to our effort to attain co-operation in selling our produce?. Now that shipping is likely to be attainable, merchant firms, strong financially, aro quite likely in the way of business to place strong inducements in the way of our shareholders to make an immediate sale to them of their honey. The temptation, is a cash price that at the time will appear to be a good price, while the lI.P. A. can give an advance only on shipment, and a final payment when tho' produce is sold. Wo would point out that tlioro aro a few things worth remembering in this connection. The merchant, while ho offers a cash price, does not do so without leaving a sufficcnt margin for -risk. Ho must do so, and it is tho beekeeper that pays that risk. The H.P.A. give an ad yanoe, which must hjave been very satisfactory this last year, but still will hardly oomparo with the merchants' straight-out offer. Ivater, however, the beekeeper gets all therd" ft in «, and that in a market

where his own company is socking, by using the best means, to consistently build up and foster a trade Further, by dealing with each producer separately the merchants', influence is to disunite. We all know how in the past beekeepers havo been pitted one against another, and tho price cut down. With co-operation we areuniting and strengthening our position all tho time. Still further, tho merchant can afford to make his .offer specially tempting for a year or tjvo if by that means ho can break down our union. He can then recoup himself later. We, on the other hand, in order to establish our association, have got to go warily and to bo careful; while we do the best we can for our members Ave dare not take risks. There are many other ways of looking at the position, but we would point out this one i When we become shareholders we become morally bound, and it is incumbent upon us to stick together. The whole Ten Commandments in so far as co-operation is concerned is summed up in one word, "Loyalty." Not only in the letter, but in the spirit, we must be loyal to our company. Our effort must bo to build up and help along, not to imagine that, whenever it suits our own hand, we are entitled to out out and do 8,5. we Jilce. "Wo have no fear now for our co-op. Its position is sound and good, and. its arrangement with its Homo market agents very satisfactory.