TRANSPORTING BEES

Putaruru Press, Volume XII, Issue 562, 8 March 1934, Page 3

TRANSPORTING BEES

HIVES PACKED IN ICE A. novel method of transporting hives of bees, by packing them in ice in a railway truck, has been employed with success by Mr E. E. Abram, a prominent New South Wales apiarist. The journey was from Sandy Hollow siding (near Merriwa) to a district on the far South Coast furnishing ample honey flora, that is trees yielding adequate nectar. The distance, 400 miles, was completed in 24 hours. The number of hives moved was 250, and on the basis of an average weight of 101 b. of bees to the hive and 4500 bees to the pound, Tli million l:>ees were transported. There had been practically a complete failure of blossom during the season, and so scarce did nectar become in the environment surrounding Mr Abram’s apiary, that ultimately he had to decide whether to make artificial provision for the bees —a costly undertaking with so many hives—or risk loss during transportation.. Deaths through overheating in transit are very heavy during the summer months, and in cases whole consignments have been killed. Forced to make a move, Mr Abram hit upon the original scheme of dispatching the bees in a chamber of ice. He, therefore, systematically arranged 225 hives, containing Italian and Carniolan bees, in a bogie louvre van. A ton of ice in blocks, which were packed in sawdust in bags, was then carefully adjusted around the hives. Good ventilation was allowed, and, due to the cooling influence of the ice and draught, the bees landed somewhat subdued but in good condition at their destination. | Mr Abram was very satisfied with I the experiment, and considers the method very sound for moving large quantities of bees during food shortage. . To have provided artificial food for his bees would probably have cost •him over £2O a week.