THE APIARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 4041, 25 August 1931, Page 11

THE APIARY.

AUGUST.

lhe beekeeper should take advantage of the weather, and on the first fine day examine all hives to see that there is no shortage of food for the bees (says Apiary Instructor D. Robertson). If food in the hives is short this should at once be supplemented with sugar syrup. With the advent of warmer weather brood-rearing will be started, and the stores of the hive will quickly lessen, 'l he beekeeper must guard against there being any shortage, for no plants at this season are yielding nectar sufficient to replace the stores consumed by the bees. Advantage should be taken when examining the bees to see that the hives are thoroughly dry inside. Any faulty ones should be replaced.

BROOD AND EGGS. While inspecting the hives for stores the condition of the hive should be noticed in reference to brood or eggs. If none of either is present a note should be made, and the hive again examined shortly to see if the hive is “queen right” or otherwise. If at a later examination there are both eggs and brood the hive should be watched to see that the queen is not failing. If large, even patches of eggs and brood are found thi s will show that the queen is normal and only delayed egg-laying on account of the season or lack of stores in the hive. A small amount of brood scattered over the centre frame unevenly laid would indicate an aged or failing queen. She should be removed at the first opportunity and replaced by a young vigorous queen. Any weeds or rank growth of grass must be removed, ;tpd the hives situated in a damp place should be moved to a dry, sunnj- position.

Material for making up should be purchased in readiness for the swarming seiicon.

Wax intended to be made up into foundation should have the sender’s name and address scratched on before being sent away; it should then be tied up in sacking and forwarded to the foundation maker. At the same time the foundation maker to whom the wax is sent must be advised. Often wax is received without

any means of identification, and the foundation maker is at a loss to know from whom it has been sent. It is easy to see this causes undue delay.

HONEY v. SUGAR.

Honey differs from all cane and beet sugars in that it is in a form nearly ready to be absorbed and used for cell nutrition just as it is swallowed. Ordinary sugar has to be chemically changed in the small intestine before it is any use as a food, but honey is absorbed practically without change. Doctors condemn the modern extravagant use of white sugar; it is declared to be the cause of much trouble in children. All children like sweet foods, and in honey they have the ideal food, containing the sugar necessary for their system in its most digestible form. Cut down your sugar bill by using honey on your porridge—you will never go" back to sugar again.

As a fuel food for energy ajid heat one pound of honey is equal to 23 eggs, and costs considerably less.