THE HONEY CROP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17203, 8 March 1930, Page 4

THE HONEY CROP

DOMINION PROSPECTS

As had been predicted by experts earlier in the season, the honey crop for the Auckland province will not he one-half of the usual quantity, tind will probably be a little over onethird. The excessively wet weather experienced during December and January, the chief gathering periods of the bees' year, while inducing a fairly good growth, prevented the bees from collecting the nectar. Reports received by the Government apiarist instructor, Mr. Y. Westbrooke, show that the crop over the,whole of the Dominion is less than usual, except in Otago and parts of Canterbury, where an average amount appears to be forthcoming. The delinite quantities produced will not he known until the first grading, just begun by the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Honey Producers’ Association, has been completed. The tea tree crop in some of the bays to the north of Auckland promises well, and it seems certain that a good winter crop will be gathered. Mr. Westbrooke expressed the opinion that it would not be long before tea tree honey was a popular grade. Its flavor was very similar to the muchvaunted Scotch heather honey, while its strength rendered it very economical in use. At the present time it was sold chiefly in the comb.