A MOTOR-CAR TRAILER FOR MOVING BEES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XIII, Issue 4, 20 October 1916, Page 279

A MOTOR-CAR TRAILER FOR MOVING BEES.

A convenient and effective bee-transport trailer for use with a motor-car has been designed by Mr. Robert Gibb in connection with his Menzies Ferry Apiary, Southland. For some years past Mr. Gibb has moved large numbers of colonies to the Kamaki Bush each spring for the early bush flowers, a distance of four miles. Hitherto the bees have been carried on .a light cart holding nine hives, and consequently many trips had to be undertaken at great risk .to the owner. The ability to dispense with the

horse conveyance and to bring into use the light home-made trailer under notice has enabled Mr. Gibb to carry a load of 12 cwt. at one trip, running at fifteen miles an hour, the road being a good one. The photograph shows a load of thirty-six supers fitted with combs on their way to the bush, and bears evidence of the practical use that can be made of a motor-car in beekeeping.

The following is a specification of the trailer: Wheels, solid rubber tires off an old motor-car; axle, i| in. steel springs, as for milk-cart.; body, 8 ft. long; understructure, two 8 ft. 4 in. by 2 in. lengthwise pieces, and three 3 in. by 2 in. cross-pieces,

all of red-gum; upper structure or decking, one piece 2 in. by 2 in., 8 ft. long, along centre, to keep hives from butting each other; four pieces of 6 in. by in., each 8 ft. long, for hives to rest on; draw-bar (two arms), for attaching to back of motor-car, round steel, 1 in. in . diameter, bolted to each of the 8 ft. 4 in. by 2 in. main beams. Eye of draw-bar attached to hook on back

of car.-

—E. A. Earp,

Apiary Instructor, Dunedin.