THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 9

THE APIARY.

By J. A.

SHORT COURSES IN BEE-CULTURE. Under the heading, "The California Short Courses," the American Bee Journal describes what is being done in California alonjr these lines, and to us in New Zealand it is very interesting reading. The course is thus described:

" The -course given was the same at all of the places, and the same programme was followed from beginning to end, with slight variation. Instead of starting out with elementary instruction in such matters as hive construction and methods of manipulation, it was assumed that those in attendance were beekeepers of experience, familiar with hives and other equipment, and understood fully the meaning of such words as 'topbars,' ' swarms,' 'hive-stands,' and 'propolis.' " The outline was made at Washington by D-r Phillips and Mr Demuth, who with Professor Coleman, of the university, were the principal speakers. The whole purpose of the course was to lay a thorough groundwork of fundamentals and then apply these to beekeeping practice. " With many beekeepers, what they have learned is a matter of experience. Many of us learned manipulations long before we understood the reasons for them. By considering the first • activities of the bees themselves, we can better understand why a particular manipulation is necessary _to secure a desired result. At the beginning the work was divided into _ two parts, ' Fundamentals of bee behaviour outside the active season' and ' .Fundamentals of bee behaviour during the active season.' The beekeepers' year was thus divided into two parts—the active season, and winter or the inactive season. Following the presentation of the bee activities during these two peroids, fundamentals of practice were taken up in similar manner, and the two periods, fundamentals of practice were because of the nature of certain activities of the insects.

"One day was devotee! to the consideration of the übject of disease, and the same general method of handling the subject was applied. Many came with a very definite idea of the nature of the course, and some were sceptical as to whether it woidd be worth while. Others' seemed to expect something in the nature of a beekeepers' convention. " It was a school rather than a beeman's meeting or convention, and there was but little tinio for the usual social activities common to conventions. The sessions started at 9 a.m. and continued till noon. After a brief recess for the noon, luncheon the grind was resumed till time to eat again. The evening sessions were attended in spite of the hard day, and there was no lack of interest, even up to the close_ of the last session. Notebooks were much in evidence, and" many went away prepared to review the work after returning to their homes. "One very pleasing feature was that the more extensive beekeepers were the most enthusiastic about the course, and most anxious to see it repeated. Many were present, who own from 600 to 2000 colonics of bees. Several had sold honey crops the oast season ranging from lOdol to 20,000d0l in value. When men of this kind stick from the sound of the first gong until the last session is over, it is. good evidence that ti.o course is extremely practical, and when such men ask that it be repeated again next year, there need be no fear that the instructors have wasted their time. I here were a number of beginners present, and they stuck heroically, although much of the time they did not understand fully what was being said. They absorbed some of the enthusiasm of tho old-timers, and picked up pointers here and there, which were sufficient to sustain their interest to the end. A few stayed for only a day or two, and then disappeared, but most of them remained, and expressed themselves as sorry that the courso was not longer." Tho leading spirits in these courses were Dr Phillips, Government Apiculturist of the U.S.A.. and his assistant, G-. S. Dcuiuth. These were assisted by others prominent in bee-culture, and the class of work done is vouched for in the class of men who attended and gave close attention throughout. Tho reason we draw attention to these courses here is that we feel that just this sort of thing is an urgent need in the Dominion. We have our field days, and they do much to help our industry; but, after all, tney are only a combination of business and pleasure. They do much to extend friendliness amongst beekeepers, a-s Well as lend a helping: hand to beginners; but to get down to school work and go iri

for study for the business side alone is a different thing, and it is urgently wanted. Our _ trouble is that we have no Dr Phillips. Our industry of bee-culture is under the sheltering wing of the Horticultural Division, and the director of that division is not a beekeeper, though he has done and is still rendering invaluable service in tho organising of our industry. What we want is a chief apiarist just as enthusiastic when ho gets into the inner mysteries of a- boo hive as tho Director of Horticulture is when ho gets amongst apples—a man who knows bee-culture from A to Z, and who is able both to teach and to organise. Wo are fighting for this man, and the fight is likely to be very much in earnest during the coming conference in June, but in that connection we aro in some clanger. Wo want a big man —a Dr Phillips if possible. If wo make a placo for a chief apiarist, and get a little man liable to be tied in a knot with red tapo, and only able to sco through departmental eyes —well, it is quite possible that we won't have gained much. Let us, when we press for our chief apiarist, above everything else press for a big man. TWO-STORY BROODNESTS.

W. A. C, Hawkc's Bay, asks: "You state that Mr Rentoul .uses a two-story broodnest, and I am. anxious to know if ho allows tho queen the use of both right through the winter?" a I don't think ir makes much difference whether t is left double through the winter or not. Verv likely very early in the winter tho bottom one will contain only empty :ombs, and the bees would be more comfortable if it was put away in the honey-ho iso, and thus they -were left more compact. It is when the queen requires room in tho sprang that it is really wanted, so as to fiivfl ample room for broodnest extc-nsioii, i-nd so delay any tendency to swarm.