IN THE APIARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 178, 30 July 1932, Page 8

IN THE APIARY

WORK FOR JULY (By D. S. Robinson, Apiary Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Palmerston North.) Bees that have been left with sufficient, stores as advised in previous notes during thig month require but little attention, providing they arc housed in good weather-proof hives. It is advisable, however, on bright days after rain to lift up the lids and make sure the mats over the frames are dry; should they be otherwise, remove the damp mats, replace with dry ones and examine the roof which, if found faulty, should otherwise be replaced by a sound one. After high winds, too, it is advisable to examine the apiary and ascertain that no roofs have been dislodged and that the brood chamber and any supers have not been moved by tho wind. These little attentions will often save a colony of bees from being killed by exposure. As a precaution against high winds al] hives in exposed places should be well weighted or wired down as a safeguard against the wind dislodging any portion of them. Sites may now be levelled in anticipation of increase in the coming season. Attention to this work will avoid the mistake of placing a newly hived swarm in an unsuitable position. Season's Supplies. Check over all spare material on hand and order supplies for the coming season, for if hives are made up now, and frames put together and carefully wired much valuable time in the busy season will be saved. The fixing of wax foundation to frames should be left for a later date. • Before nailing together brood chambers or supers, the ends should be well painted with a, good red lead paint. This will greatly help to preserve them against rot. Roofs, too, should be treated in rhis manner before being put* together and especially should the wood work be painted before the metal or other roofing material is fixed in position. Beekeepers having beeswax on hand and requiring comb foundation for the coming season are advised to send their beeswax to the foundation makers without delay. When dispatching this the wax should be wrapped in sacking or packed in light wooden boxes. The name of tho sender should be scratched on each block of wax sent. Advice should also bo sent to tho foundation makers 'stating amount of wax dispatched, means of transit, and lastly, but by no means forget to add your name. Foundation makers report they often get parcels of beeswax but no name of sender. Then after a lapse of a few weeks arrives generally a letter of com plaint, stating that wax sent in by them had not been returned, etc. Now is a good time to move bees, but beekeepers wishing tn do so are re minded that no colonies may bo moved more than 10 chains without tho writ ten consent of an inspector. This precaution is taken for the purpose of pre venting tho transfer of diseased boos to the neighbourhood of clean apiaries. Before moving bees, apiarists are advised to write to this department for the requisite permit and also for Iho best, methods of arranging them for re moval. Honey Recipes. Honey and Cinnamon Toast. —Something nice for afternoon tea: Spread honey on lightly buttered toast, sprinkle with cinnamon, cut in fingers and serve warm. Honey and Baked Apples: Cut out cores of apples three-quarters of way down, and fill cavity with honey and little cinnamon or cloves; cook in r.h" usual wijy.