THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 9

THE APIARY.

By

J. A.

WORK OF THE WEEK. Taken on the whole the week ending January 20 has been a favourable one in the bee yard. At the Field Day meeting on Wednesday, the general opinion of the season so far as we could get it was that it was slow. Conditions were right. At least many of those to whom we spoke thought so, Only so much broken and-eioudy weather hindered the result.. Our scale hive summaries the result at Roslyn Bush, and needless to say we are not complaining. Every day of the week except Saturday contributed something. Beginning on Sunday, the 14th, the figures were lib, 51b, 21b, 31b, 221 b, 151 b and giving a total for the week 'of 481 b, for the month of January, to the 20th of 981 b and for the season up to that date of 1751 b. Owing to the fact that our stillyards will only weight up to 2001 b, and that the colony is kept at three storeys, we have to take off honey rather frequently. L T p to the date of last week’s notes bOlb had been extracted. Our second extracting was on Tuesday of this week, and was the result ot eight days’ work; it gave 421 b, and to-day a further 371 b has been taken off; altogether 1091 b. This latter quantity was taken from the second super being fully sealed frames that had been previously partly occupied by brood. As an instance of the value of the scales as an indication of what is doing in the apiary, both Monday and Tuesday were days of strong easterly wind, and it was rather a surprise that although the bees were flying they should do so well, giving slb and 21b. Then Saturday was cloudy, but very warm.' There was a strong flight and every appearance of quite a good return, but nothing more than sufficient to make up shrinkage was obtained. To know these things is a great assistance to the beekeeper. SWARMING. While we were at the Meld Day meeting, and dealing with the subject of swarm control, our bees were giving Mr Caldwell, who was in charge, a picnic, painting the Macroc-arpas bee colour with quite a thick coating of bees. They say when the cat’s away the mice will play. The result was three new colonies well supplied with bees. Swarming has been more in evidence this week, but not more than we expected, and and the swarms are not giving very much trouble; we have still 10 empty stands to fill. EXTRACTING. Our first round of the apiary was finished during the week, and produced about one ton of honey. Lots of honey that we would have liked to extract had to be left on account of brood in the combs. It is not .a good plan to put brood through the extractor, and except odd bits We never do it. Then another tax on the amount extracted was the red hcftiey left in the combs. Inis we hope to get cleaner next round. Me were greatly pleased at the extracting work being done at Air Gibb’s apiary by his big six-frame extractor driven by a gasoline engine that makes steady, easy work. The combs came out nice and clean and not bruised. At Roslyn Bush the hope is that some day it will find us with electric power driving a six-frame machine. Till then we are content with the two-frame hand machine. SOUTHLAND FIELD DAY. This function was held at Air Robt. Gibb’s apiary at Alenzies Ferry. While quite a number of the old hands were absent, there was still a very large attendance, and it was quite noticeable that a strong spirit of inquiry was abroad; there were lots of questions to answer. Lunch was served on tUe green in front of Mr Gibb’s beautiful home, and after justice had been done to it, the visitors gathered at the apiary, when the programme was begun. Air Earp’s absence was very noticeable, his leadership and able way of demonstrating how to handle a colony of bees, has so often been the feature of these gatherings. In his absence the writer of these notes led the way with a short address on swarm control. On concluding quite a number of questions were asked and discussed. The next item On the programme was an address on foul brood by Air Goodman, of Greenfield. This was listened to very closely, and Southland beekeepers are indebted to Mr Goodman for coming- so far and putting things so plainly. We entirely agree with Mr Goodman’s contention that our Southland Association covers too much ground. It would be better if it were divided into smaller Associations, each dealing with the foul brood difficulty in the same spirit, and with the same thoroughness as has already been done at Greenfield. Air Robert Stewart, of Crookston followed with an address on queens, queen rearing, and queen introduction. W e have no beekeeper who knows his subject quite so well as Mr Stowart does, and his remarks and demonstration at the hive were followed closely by a very interested oand of beekeepers, consisting of both beginners and old-stagers. Mr Gibb, as a director of the Honey Producers 1 ’ Association, next addressed the gathering on 11.P.A. methods, tile prospects of the market, and answered questions as to tins and cases. Mr Gibb expressed the opinion that it might be better if the H.P.A. handled only an export trade, and left the local market to take care of itself. We are not prepared to agree with that altogether, but we do feel that our present methods of handling the local market trade is very expensive and requires a good deal of adjusting. Mr Leslie Irwin, the infatigable secretary of the Association, urged those present to join up and pay their subs, and keep up the good work the Association was doing. A very successful and pleasant meeting was brought to a close with a cup of tea, and the usual votes of thanks. Thanks are certainly due to Mr and Airs Gibb and their assistants for a very pleasant and profitable afternoon spent at “Beeswing.”