BEEKEEPING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16895, 17 November 1920, Page 7

BEEKEEPING.

(By “Tainui.”)

, The work of the apiary is now reaching the stage in which success or failure for the year is found. • Hives that have had sufficient stores of food are now very strong and will need careful attention. If increase is desired, then a swarming may be allowed to take place; if not, then the hives must he carefully examined every week and the queen cells removed. Do not forget that the next month or two is the best time to re-queen your hives, ft is a very simple process to kill the old queen and in a day or two remove one or more of the queen cells, leaving one good one to bo the future queen. If there are no cells in the hive whose queen you desire to replace, then introduce a frame containing one from another hive. Dividing your hives is better than allowing them to swarm. It is easily done by removing the old hive a short distance away from its stand, putting a ne,w.hive in its place. Then remove a frame of brood and bees from the old one, also tho queen, and put them in the new one, putting a frame of foundation in its place. The bees out working will return to the old stand and will be strong enough to keep the brood warm and hatch it out, while the old hive" will soon regain its strength, and the young queen will hatch out, mate, and carry on the same as if the hive had swarmed in the natural way. Of course tho dividing must not be done' till the queen cells are well developed. Sunday afternoons will be more interesting at Tainni as the sea-son advances. Beginners should not lose the opportunity of seeing how to handle the bees. It is with regret that I have to tell ray friends that the best hive in my apiary has lost its queen—a Joss which I cannot replace. 1 hope ere another week-has gone that better weather will prevail and so help the hives which are not too well provided with food. It is advisable to clean the bottom hoards now to .get rid of' thd dirt which is a favourite breeding of the wax moth. It is easily and quickly done by removing the hive a few feet. Put a clean bottom board in the old stand and lift the hive on to it, then clean the other and use it tho same way at the next hive. Smoke the bees lightly at thq entrance before moving Them. I shall, not be at hoihe on Sunday, 21st instr