THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 11

THE APIARY.

By

J. A.

A correspondent writes: — “I intend, if all goes well, to start an apiary during the incoming winter or spring. I am absolutely free to make my choice of locality. I would be glad of any hints you can give through your Witness notes as to the more e:sential requirements of a bee location.” 1 have written frequently on this oje in the past, and consequently not much of what I now write will be new to old i eaders. There are, however, always some who, like our correspondent, find this subject interesting because the knowledge affects their immediate plans. There -re two principal conditions affecting all bee-keeping and flora. Dealing first with climate, I prefer that it should be too wet rather than too dry. Where the fields turn brown in midsummer there is poor chance for a large yield of honey, and if the soil is of a light gravelly nature this condition is intensified. Central Otcgo with its very light rainfall, as far south as Roxburgh, is not likely to be at all reliable, and beekeeping there, while it might occasionally give a reward, will be liable to cause much disappointment. From about Ettrick southwards, down the Clutha, will be better, probably much better; and from Balclutha it will be ideal. In North Otago, the Canterbury plains, and on through Marlborough, and the same up the eastern coast of the North Island we have a much drier climate than we have in Otago south of Dunedin and Southland, and also Auckland In the drier districts, where the pasture often scorches in the summer, beekeeping will meet with poor seasons, and th*. beekeeper who deeides to settle down in such districts must expect that occasionally, in some of them very often, his crop will be light. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. In some places the land is low lying and moist, and will retain #ufficrent moisture to >ffset the want of -ain. Along the foothills in Canterbury -t is more moist, the nor’-westers there give moisture, and probably manv good locations are available that are much safer than nit on the plain. In Otago and Southland, and also in Auckland, the seasons are more reliable. and seldom fail on account of drought, and in spite of their rainy reputation fail just as seldom on that account. Of late years a good deal of attention has been directed to Westland. Its rainfall of from ICOin to 120 in does not appear to prevent the bees from getting in good time, and it is now getting rather famous for its rata honey. This course of nectar, however, is not very regular, and can not be always depended on. In Taranaki, which has also a big rainfall, we have probably one of the best bee districts in the Dominion. We hear that this year there are some bumper crops produced up there, running to as much as 40 tons.

Dealing with the other essential of a good locality, that of flora, 1 place as easily the most important the clovers. By far the most dependable, it also produces honey of the finest quality. In pastures where sheep are grazed the clovers are often kept so close that but little bloom is allowed, so that just on that account a dairying district is to be preferred. A locality that is on limestone or on which lime is being fn :lv used *s also to he preferred, as it is web known that lime is essential to a good growth of clover. Where clover is not only the main supply, but almost the only one. there is often loss caused by the want ot food in the springtime. Clover m the south is not available before midDecember, and consequently something is wanted to fill the gap from September onwards. For this purpose nothing is quite so good as having within range a few acres of native bush. In some Canterbury districts willow- serve this purpose very well, and sometimes not onlv keep the bees going, but also yield some surplus. The Hath . bush, however, the advantage, that it contains a succesforp ° fi i neCtar ;u Prod \l c \ng Plants, and therefore fills up the whole gap. The country along the lower reaches of most of our large rivers may be taken as generally the most satisfactory from a beekeeper’s point of view. It i s there that we find thl ninHf eS I and consequently get stSTf rJe 3 ;. 38 poßeib,c