BEE NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16465, 18 June 1919, Page 8

BEE NOTES.

i (By “Tainui.”) ; Another Winter Show has passed away and we beekeepers do well to note ! tlie lessons to be learned from it, more i particularly in our Honey section. Tlie i entries constituted a record lor North ’ Taranaki, and tt is doubtful il any 1 snow in the province has ever had a larger entry, lucre wore lo exhibitors ' aim neany oO entries. The local Beekeepers’ Association acted as stewards, and with the exception ot one exhibitor the exhibits were.ready for the judges at IU a.m. At II a.ui. prompt the judges and class steward took charge ana bad iiiimued by 1 p.m., so that when tho public arrived at 2 p.m. every thing was ready tor inspection. All classes were well contested except the one lor full combs. 'This is always ( a difficult class to till, but is well worth an enort, as a good clean comb of honey weighing b or i) pounds is always an attractive sight even to the beekeeper. Generally an tho comb honey was on tlie dant side; tho exceptions only served to show tho difference in “light” and “dark” cappings. 'Tlie liquid honey class showed the same diversity of colour, from light amber to dark brota. Two of tins class showed exceptional merit, tho winning one coming from Chorlton, Banks’ Peninsula, the other from Tariki; there were nine entries in this class. The class for granulated also showed a good deal of variation in colour and evenness of texture, tlie first and second prize jars being of exceptional merit; these wore from a Bell Block exhibitor. Tlie collections brought out four exhibitors, and here the honey was of much more even grade, the judges having some trouble in placing the tickets. Beeswax was a good section, and drew a. good entry. Hero again colour was very varied, but the quality was very good, showing greater care in its preparation; overheating was not so much in evidence. The first prize sample was very good and will I think find its way to the V.’inter Show at Hawcra. The hives of bees were a source of great attraction and certainly deserved all the nice remarks made by the 'public. Mr. Beale’s hive was ot outstanding merit, completely overshadowing all otl;?rs which have previously been shown. The arrangements allow both sides t>f tho combs to be seen and the queen in the cage, gave an object-lesson on how tho bees attend to and protect their sovereigt mother. Tho clustering of the bees on the brood could also bo plainly seen. Mr, Beale certainly deserved all the congratulations he received from his fellow beekeepers and others. One gentleman has ottered to uurchase it for tho local association. The annual meeting of the North Taranaki Beekeepers’ Association was held in the building on Saturday, at 1 p.m., when there was a very fair attendance of members. The report and balance-sheet were read and adopted, and the following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year;—President, Dr. Blaftkley (re-elected) ; vicepresident, 11 v. E. S. Johns (re-olectod); secretary, Mr. E. IV. Saudford (reelected.) ; committee, Miss Saudford, Mrs. Bell, Messrs. Mason, Yoght, Beale and Eric St. G. Shaw; auditor, Mr. C. D. Arnold. Next week 1 propose to deal with some other aspects of the exhibits of honey, and also some matters in the report.