THE APIARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 20 (Supplement)

THE APIARY

NOTES BY “NUCLEI.” Recent cold spells and the absence of activity in the apiary, except on sunny clays, is a reminder that the winter months have been entered. The hives should not not be opened up again until late August. However,., there are many jobs which can be done, particularly where the apiary in a fairly large one. For instance, it is necessary to see that long grass and weeds arc kept down at the entrance to the hive, so as to provide for as much sunlight as possible. Nothing is so detrimental to the health of the colony as dampness in and around, the hives. All hivea should be kept about four to six inches off the ground in the winter time. This will allow a free current of air to help keep the bottom board dry.

Another matter that should now receive attention is the condition of tne covers of the hives.’ Care must be taken to see that they arc all leakproof, otherwise the mats become wet, and will remain so practically all the winter if precautions are not :aken. ft is a good plan to keep on hand a few extra sound covers, so that if one is found to be faulty, it can at once be replaced with a good one; at the same time, wet mats should be taken off and replaced with dry ones.

If there is any doubt about there being sufficient stores to last until the spring, the bees can be fed by placing a half-super, or a super, on top without removing the mat, providing cloth or sacking mats are used, but just turning back one corner to allow the bees to ascend to the food supplied in the super. There are various methods of winter feeding, but perhaps one of the safest is to make soft candy, and place this on top of the mat. To make this candy, take about 101 b of sugar, put in a preserving pan with about two quarts of water, place over a good fire and boil vigorously for about five minutes. Then take a little of the syrup, place in a cup, and stand the cup in cold water and beat with a fork or spoon. If it sets when cool in a soft candy, it is ready. Take the bulk off and treat in a similar manner. This candy should set with a very smooth grain and when nearly set the lot can be poured or scooped out into shallow dishes lined with paper. When cold the candy can be cut into such sizes as required and given to the bees on top of the mat.

If the method of feeding syrup is preferred at this time of the year, it is made fairly heavy—that is to say, it should be made by using about three parts of sugar to one of water—and thi should bo fed fairly rapidly, by giving the colony sufficient in one or two feedings to last them through the winter. Benzine tins cut in halves length ways and any holes in the bottom or sides soldered up, make excellent feeders, but a float (bracken fern answers the purpose) should bo placed in the syrup, otherwise the bees are liable to be drowned. The beginner should be warned to take every precaution against spilling any of the syrup outside the hive when feeding, as, if spilt, there is a grave danger of starting the bees robbing out the hives. , • • « « In the Wanganui district, however, where thick honey is a problem in many apiaries, the provision of stores should be comparatively simple. When the flow of thick honey has just about ended (the main flow is nearly always thin) take off the combs containing the thick honey, and when the thin honey has been extracted to the maximum, replace the combs of thick hdney for winter and spring feeding.

Communications in connection with this column should be addressed to “Nuclei,” Apiary Section Farm Notes, ” Chronicle.”