THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3805, 15 February 1927, Page 11

THE APIARY.

By

J. A.

THE WEEK. Most of this week has meant marking time. Only on two days did the scale hive show increased weight. The figures for the week were 5,0, 0,0, 0,0, 12 pounds—l7lb in two days. The fact that on February 5 a colony -by no means over strong could put in 121 b shows that the nectar field is not at fault, and that the only requirement is suitable gathering weather. The work during the week has consisted of putting in more excluders (a continuation from last week) and looking over colonies where excluders have been,in for 10 days, so as to remove queen cells from the brood above the excluders. It has always to be remembered that when an excluder divides a brood-nest, shutting the queen down on the lower portion, the other half is to the bees a queenless colony, so that they immediately proceed to develop queen cells in it. The excluder (if there is brood both above and below) divides the colony into two, and if it is so desired the top half can be taken away at the 10 days, and put on another stand to form a new colony. I do not, of course, advise any such proceeding at this time of the year, but such is the principle of the Alexander method of increase, and when practised early in the season forms one of the most successful methods of increase. THAT BEE! By “That bee!” is meant the bee which balances itself in midair about 2in to 6in from the point of the beekeeper’s nose and remains there all day. It is not a permanent resident in the apiary, but it came back to Roslyn Bush apiary this week, and has remained in ciose attendance. During spring and early sunjiner it is absent, and as a consequence apiary work is much more pleasant. Perhaps a description of this particular bee might be- of some service to the beginner or to the tenderfoot who goes too near to the apiary in the autumn. In the first place, it is musical. It is true, there is a sameness about the music, and it often has a very irritating effect; but there it is; one cannot stop it, and one has got to hear it, because the bee moves round to the car for that purpose. It is just as ready to .Settle on the lobe of the ear as it is 'on the point of the nose. Then it is very quick in its movement. Poised there in front, it looks an easy catch, but just when the hand almost closes on it, it settles on the nose, or, if there is a good defence, then it goes round to the ear or the back of the neck—anywhere, so long as it can get a rest for a moment. Another thing about it is that it never dies. One may crush it 50 times in a day, and it may settle often enough to lose a dozen stings, but still it is there in front of one’s nose, with the same old tune, the same quick movement, and, it will be found, a sting as sharn as ever. It would be possible to tell a lot more about “That bee!” Most beginners fir.; it all out for themselves. Its lessons are so impressive that they are not easily forgotten. What is the cure? It is one which old beekeepers <Io not care to take, more. especially if the eyesight is. bad. It is simply to put on a veil., - SOUTHLAND BEEKEEPERS’ . ASSOCIATION. The association took advantage of the gathering on field day to do its annual meeting business. A balance sheet was presented, which showed that the association had required to be careful in order to keep its expenditure within the compass of its income and at the same time contribute its quota to the upkeep of “National.” - The Secretary hoped that beekeepers would see the value of keeping alive their organisation, and would be ready to renew their annual subscriptions. This? I understand, met with a free response before the meeting closed, and the secretary was sent on his way rejoicing. Mr R. Gibb, who has been president for a number of years, and who was one of the founders (21 years ago) of the association, asked to be allowed to retire from off e, and proposed Mr David Sloan as his successor. This was agreed to with acclamation, and the association is to be congratulated on having a man so thoroughly interested in bee culture as its president. It is to be hoped that the interest created in the association will lead to a good extension of its membership. Mr Gibb, who in his retiring speech mentioned that he and Mr Allan were the only two present of the original, founders of the association,which had just reached its majority, and was the first such association in the Dominion, was re-elected as delegate to the Dominion conference. It is difficult for .members of a beekeepers’ association " to meet together more often than at such a gathering as the annual field day. Even if they can only do this, however, and keep their organisation properly alive, it gives them tne power to speak with one voice, and so to be unitedly in touch with the department, which is working to promote the best interests of the industry. There is the need for a watchful eye as far as foul-brood and other are concerned, while attention should be given to district interests with regard to marketing, both in the export and local market. Let us hope that beekeepers will, realise that they cannot afford, for the sake of a 5s subscription, to lose the advantages which organisation gives them. . - -