THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 21

THE APIARY.

By

J. A.

THE MODERN FRAME HIVE. I purpose in this, and perhaps several succeeding articles, writing for those who are in mind to become beekeepers or who, having made a start, are meeting with difficulties —those who are in every sense beginners. I shall begin with a description of the standard hive —the hangstroth 10-frame hive. The difference between this and other hives is largely a matter of either the size or number of the frames. Some beekeepers like an eight-frame hive, r though not many of these are used in the Dominion. Others prefer a 12-frame hive, and this may be regarded as favoured by a few of our largest beekeepers. Some, again, think the Langstroth frame too shallow, and prefer a deeper one. The late Mr Hopkins advocated the standardising of the 10-frame hive, or, as the unit of the hive, the Langstroth size of frame. In this I think he was wise. In any ease it is a very serious mistake for any beekeeper to have more than one size of frame in his apiary. The mixing up of different sized frames becomes an everlasting nuisance. It does not so much matter about different sized supers, so long as they all take the same frame, though here again 1 think it better to have only the one size. THE STAND. In describing the hive I begin with the stand. The materials used in this are often just such as may be available in the locality. The requirement is that they should be made level from side to side, but with a droop of about an inch to the front. This droop is required to enable the bees to clean the bottom board. There would otherwise be an accumulation of chips and dead bees, which would naturally go to the lowest point; but if that lowest point is the entrance, then the bees will clean taem out. There is a great advantage inmaking the stands double, so as to contain two colonies. This often assists in uniting, and in a case where it is desired to remove a colony for any reason the homing bees, finding their home gone, will be received into the other colony, and thus cause no loss. A good double stand can be made with six bricks and two pieces of hardwood 3in by 2in by 4ft. Three bricks are spaced for front and back, after the ground has been cleaned and levelled, one at each end and one in the middle They are laid on the flat, the front row being lin lower than the back row. The ground should be solid, so that there will be no uneven settling. It has to be remembered that hives are often built up during the season to four and even five storeys high, and that they may weigh from 2cwt to 3cwt each. The hardwood pieces are laid on the bricks, and are held in place by a cross piece filling the space between the hives and nailed to each bearer. This arrangement fqjms a simple, but very effective stand. It is not too high from the ground, and yet high enough, especially if the weeds are kept clear for about a foot all round and two feet in front. THE BOTTOM BOARD. A single width of board is best for this, but is rather expensive, so that mostly tongued and grooved flooring boards are used. These should be of the best lasting timber procurable, otherwise they soon decay through damp. The boards should be nailed to two pieces of hardwood spaced so as to be directly under the back and front ends of the hive, the •stand also having been spaced to suit. This spacing takes the weight directly over the bearers, and is better than having the front bearer 4in out, as is often done. The board should be 4in longer than the hive, to allow for a lighting place. This I prefer to a lighting board made separately and nailed on. As the frames in the super are flush with the bottom of the super, it is necessary to nail a strip on two sides and the back end of the board in order to keep the frames a full bee space off the board. This strip should be lin by gin, thus leaving an open front for an entrance, which can be closed to any size desired, in accordance with the season. THE COVER. As my space is too limited to deal with supers and frames, I shall leave that for next week, and meantime deal with the cover This must be waterproof, and as I much prefer the flat cover, with sides that telescope on the hive, it is necessary to use a waterproof covering. Mine is malthoid, but zinc covers are in very common use, and are certainly more lasting. With tlii» waterproof covering plain boards of almost any kind of timber can be used. A 2in strip carries the boards, and fits over the super. This arrangement brings the cover just a bee space from the frames and prevents the necessity for a mat. This is a cover that suits me very well, and the only one I use.

HIE BREADSTUFFB AND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Friday evening. Friday evening. Since the beginning of December Australian exports of wheat have fallen largely below those of the corresponding period in 1924-25, the decline being due to smaller yields in all States (says the Australasian of April 24). Total shipments were 34.322.933 bushels, compared with 56,702,613 bushels. The shrinkage was most marked in Victoria and New South Wales, a contraction of nearly 12,000,000 bushels, und more than 9,000,000 buheU respectively being disclosed in theso States. Figures relating to flour, however, show that millers so far this year have carried on on extensive trade abroad, all of the States, except Victoria, recording a substantial increase on the shipments for 1924-25. New South Wales shows an increase of 32.000 tons. Western Australia about 11,300 tons. South Australia 4700 tons, while Victoria’s quota is down by nearly 7000 tons. Converting flour into wheat on the usual basis of 48 bushels to the ton, exports of wheat and flour since December 1 to about the close of last week aggregated 42,192,917 bushels of wheat, contrasted with 65,657,605 for the

corresponding period of 1924-25. Exports from the various States were as under: —

Reports issued in Montreal, that the Saskatchewan wheat pool authorities in Canada have decided to purchase the business of the Co-operative Elevator Company, in the Dominion, disclose that a substantial sum is involved in the transaction. It sugfests that the pool management has been able to withhold large sums of money from the wheat-growers for emergency or trading purposes, but no doubt this is part of the arrangement with the producers. This season the Canadian wheat pools have been operating under exceptionally favourable conditions. In the first place, the margin between exporters’ surpluses and world import requirements promised to be narrow. Then, as the outlook for the Australian crops in the spring months was uncertain, and conditions in Argentina were irregular. Canada had not to face competition from other sellers, with the result that it was able to command t^ r its wheat, but that position mav not arise again for some years. The purchase of the Elevator Company, however, would, no doubt, strengthen the opposition of the pool. Movements in the overseas wheat market during the week have been satisfactory from the growers’ point of view (says the Australasian o<f April 24). Although high levels had been reached. *he unward trend of prices has continued practically un checked. A combination of factor? appears to bp responsible for the strength that has been disclosed in the position. The principal cause may be attributed to the healthv consuming d°mand in Europe and the narrow margin between exporters surpluses and importers’ needs, while increased selling prices now asked by the Argentine also have contributed to the firmness of the markets. Tn New South Wales and South Au«traba wheat-growers have been selling more freelv. b«t in Victoria many of the growers are still prepared to look on. Buyers have rai=ed their limits in sympathy with the higher nricp« that obtain abroad. Export trade in flour has been light. LOCAL MARKETS. The bulk of the threshing of wheat has row been completed in this district. Lhe samples now coming to hand vary considerably owing to the lateness of the season Some farmers are still threshing out of the stook, and this wheat is quite soft and unsuitable for milling. In cases where threshing has been done from the stack the quality is all right, and as most of this wheat has been sold for forward delivery millers are accepting it. Farmers who d :i not take advantage of the prices available earlier in the season are still refusing to accept the present prices offered by millers, which are 6s 8d per bushe., f.0.b.. for Tuscan, 6s lOd for Huntersi and 7s for Velvet. These lines are being held by farmers for higher prices. The inquiry for fowl wheat is quiet, there being a poor consumptive demand. North Island merchants are still drav»...g the:r supplies from Australia, but ihe market there has firmed, and the present landed price in the North Island is 7? Bid per bushel. This price is still about! 2d per bushel above the equivalent of the prices being asked bv South Island merchants No business is therefore passing between the two islands. The oats market is still quiet. A good demand was experienced from this port early in April. A good many sales to the North Island were made, hut buyers there have now filled their requirements. The position now is that there are practically no- buyers for oats, and in view of this merchants are not keen m purchasing from growers. Odd sales -*re going through on lhe bas : of 5s 4d ner bushel* sacks extra, on trucks, for A grade Gartons and at 2d less for B grade. lhe prices asked for shipment are 4s ?d •'er bushel, f.0.b.. s.i.. for A giade Gartons and 4s Id for B grade. It is reported, however, that there are quotations from Southland at Id per bushel less than these figures. Canadian oats are still arriving in the North Island, these being deli verbs from purchases made by merchants some time a»o. Later on. when the Canadian suppliers are worked off, there should be a better demand for South Island outs. The recent heavy shipments of potatoes to Australia have filled the mar-.t there, and the latest cable advices report that prices have dropped by £2 to £3 per ton in Sydney. This means that no further sales are being made to Australia, and at ? resent the demand is confined to the North sland and local requirements. Digging is general, and the quantity of potatoes coming to hand is in excess of the demand, with the result that the market has weakened. Best quality to-dav is worth £7 tier ton .sacks included, ex truck, but it is not expected that this price will be maintained. There is still a poor demand for chaff. The stores hold fairly large quantities of old season’s chaff, and it is difficult to effect sales. The present value is up to £5 15s per ton, sacks extra, ex store, for the best quality. Medium and poor quality is neglected, ami is being held in store in the meantime. # North Island merchants are still securing their supplies from Australia, and while this chaff can be landed free of duty there is no prospect of shipping from this port. The market for all lines of seeds b quiet. There is no demand from outside for any line, and merchants are holding heavy stocks in the meantime. Very little buying is now being done. Tho quantity offering is on the small side, and merchants are not showing any interests Curront wholesale prices for produce lines are as follow-s:— Chaff, £5 15s per ton. Potatoes, Xj( por ton. Dairy Butter.—Best milled bulk, Is 3d and Is 4d per lb, according to quality; separator pats, Is 2d to Is 3d. Eggs.-Stamped, 3s; caso, 2s lid; preserved. 3d. v • Bacon.—Rolls, la 3d per lb. Hams, Is 3d per lb; boneless. Is 4d. Canterbury onions, 17» 6d per cwt.

FRUIT REPORT. An exceedingly bujy wetk has been experienced in tbe fruii market. The Kurow arrived during the week with about 1290 cases of Fiji bauauas, which were transhipped at Auckland. lhe fruit was on the ripe aids, but it met with a keen demand everything being cleared. lhe mail boat from Tahiti has arrived at Wellington, and heavy consignments of oranges are expected to reach here either to-morrow or on Monday. No advice has been received as to whether there were any banana? on the steamer. Very heavy supplies of dessert apples are now reaching the market from Nelson, Marlborough, and Central Otago. The fruit is of good quality, but prices are on the low side. Only fair supplies of dessert pears have reached the market, and these have been in good request. Supplies of tomatoes from Canterbury have eased off somewhat, and prices have firmed again. There is a good inquiry for good quality. Supplies of peaches are practically done, and only small quantities are now coming forward. A small lot of Auckland-grown lemons and passion fruit came to hand during the week, and met with a good demand. Vegetables are in good supply, but the demand is weak. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Apples.—Cox’s Orange: Choice, 12s 6d: medium, 6s to 7s; Jonathans. 6s 6d to 8s for prime; cookers. 4s 6d to ss. Oranges.—lsland, 20s. Lemons.—ltalian, 27s 6d; Auckland. 21sTomatoes.—Christchurch, choice, 2d to 2Jd ; Central, l£d to 3d: seconds, Id; local hothouse, 6d to 8d per lb. Quinces, 2d. Peaches —Crates, 4d to 5d per lb; cases, 5s to 6s. Grapes.—Local, Is 3d to 2s. Pears.—Dessert, prime, 3d per lb; over-ripe unsaleable; cooking, l£d to 2d. Peas, lid to 2d. Rhubarb, 2d to 3d per lb. Cabbages—Choice Is 6d to 2s 6d per sack of two dozen: others unsaleable. Bananas.—Ripe. 30s to 32s 6d. Auckland Passions. 7s 6d per box. Cauliflowers. 3s to 5s per sack containing a dozen (choice only); others slow of sale. Celery, 4d to 6d per bunch of four sticks. \ lettuce.—Choice, 4s per dozen. Blackberries, 5s to 7s per bucket of 121 b. Spinach, Is 6d per dozen bundles. White turnips, Is per dozen hunches. Spring onions, 2d per bundle of six bunches.

Parsnips, 8a 6d j»er cwt. Carrots. 7s 6d per cwt. New potatoes, 8s to 9s per cwt. New season’s swedes, 4s to 5s per owt. French beans, 4d to 6d* Runner beans, 3d to sd. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Commercial last week can be summed up in much the same way used by the schoolboy* barren of ideas, who was asked to write an essay on a cricket match, when lie said, “Rain, no play." 1 hough the rain cannot be blamed in ibis instance, there are other factors which can be shouldered with ths responsibility. The closing stages of the Exhibition kav* had *an unsettling effect on business, particularly in the wholesale line, and Saturday found people in no frame of mind for busiThe strike at Lyttelton, too, has had % marked effect on wholesale business of late, as about half-a-dozen ships have been held up at that port. Among these ar* tho Matakana, the Waihemo, and the Canadian Miller. With these vessels held up, consignments Lave been delayed, and as a result shipments arriving in port have been confined to a cargo of sugar brought by the Wmgatui this morning. Further than this there is little to report.

192425. 1925-26. Wheat— Bushels. Bushels. Victoria 18,159,857 6,181,899 New South Wales 15,583,804 7,344,527 South Australia 16,125,420 13,117.776 Western Australia 5,833,532 7,678,731 Total 55,702,513 34,322,935

Flour20001b 20001b Victoria .. 58,520 51,843 New South Wales .. 23,054 55,395 South Australia .. 19,755 24,440 Western Australia .. 20,549 32,280 Total .. 121,979 163,958