THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3526, 11 October 1921, Page 7

THE APIARY.

By

J. A.

VALUE OF COME FOUNDATION. The question is asked why is there such a variation in the market quotations for foundation': Is the price not very much higher than it ought to be? Quotations for wax in the various centres seem to run from 2s to 2s 6d per lb, while foundation quotations vary from 4s to 6s per lb. Is somebody not getting more than he is entitled to ? The higher quotations, say, from 4s 6d to 6s, are probably only for the imported article. Just why that is so high we do not know. The Co-operative Beekeepers are offering Dadants (American) at from 4s 9d for medium, Broad to 5s 6tl for thin super. The same firm ouote their own make at 4s. As. American prices and the cost of importing must govern the prices for the imported article we take it that our qestioner’s main difficulty is with the local made foundation, and that he has in mind the difference of from Is 6d to 2s existing between the raw material and the manufactured article. We think that, probably the main reason lies in the shortness of supply of the raw material. If there were an abundant supply of wax at the market quotations then probably Is would cover the cost of manufacture and placing on the market, and we should havecheaper foundation. These questions accentuate the statements we made just recently regarding cartful and economical handling of the wax crumbs of the apiary. The cheapest foundation we can get is that manufactured from our own product of the raw material, and every commercial apiarist., by careful methods, should save enough wax to easily meet all his requirements in comb foundation. In prewar days foundation was worth from 2s to 2s 3d per lb, the imported article being sold at that figure also. We do not - expect to see present prices hold up, probably next, season will bring a considerable. reduction. SPRING CONDITIONS FOR THE BEES. At Mine of our last writing we had just got through a very heavy rain storm. This appears to have been general, as letters from the south indicate that there also the rain was heavy. The corning of this rain al.aycd somewhat the anxiety we felt with regard to a summer drought. The water supply had got very low, and was affecting to some extent spraying in the orchards, more especially where the principal supply was from the tiny creeks in the valleys. Now the supply is plentiful again, and the click, click of the little gasoline engines used in spraying is heard everywhere. The weather is beautifully fine again, and the Nelson bees are getting their usual harvest from fruit blossom. The stone fruits are nearly past, but the pears are at their best, and before these lines get into print the apples will also be in full bloom, and then (his valley (Tasman) will be a sea of bloom. Talking to Mr Morris, of Umukuri, he tells me that he often gets quite a bi gflow in fruit bloom time, and we can well understand that this is so, as weather conditions are nearly always perfect. The trouble is that there is always a break in midsummer when (lie flow almost ceases, and the earlier gatnered stores are used np again. Mr Morris, by the way, is an old Otago beekeeper, and knew well the late Mr T. G. Bricked, the founder of the Alliance Box Company. He is now at Umukuri, in the Riwaka district, and cultivates both fruit and bees. In our orchard there is a block of 1000 winter Cole pears. These at present are a mass of white, being in full bloom. Going through them "this morning was like visiting an apiary, the hum being accentuated by a large number of humble bees that were also at work. It was quite evident that they were getting nectar very freely. We would judge that tire conditions for apiary work are perfect in this d strict at present, and expect that bush swarms will be pressing over very soon. Hearing the hum of the bees gives the call back to the south, and as this is October 1 another month will find us preparing for our annual flitting back to the clover and the bees. MV THOUGHTS. Some days my thoughts are butterflies. And some days they are bees, But every day they fly away Beyond the furthest trees To where some perfect beauty lies Or either bees or butterflies. Sometimes they’ve colour on their wings, Sometimes they hum a song, Sometimes they glean as for a queen I’air gifts I’ve wanted long, And bring me back the lovely things V ith raptured song and homing v.ungs. And that is when my thoughts are bees, When every joyous flight Brings something back from that wild track ! They make across the light. i it or fairy plunder no one sees My thoughts lake flight like flushing I bees. But when my thoughts are butterflies They rift so gently out T scarcely know they mean to go Gr what they are about. They are more beautiful than wise When they drift out like butterflies. Grace Allen.