THE APIARY.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVI, Issue 6, 20 June 1923, Page 386

THE APIARY.

WINTER FOOD-SUPPLIES

As advised last month, the bees should require no further attention until the spring. If, however, the beekeeper has any reason to fear that his bees are in danger of starving they should be given a block of sugar-candy, unless combs of honey or candied honey from colonies known to be free from disease are available. Instructions for making sugar-candy were published in the August, 1922, issue of the Journal.

RENDERING WAX.

If the season’s accumulation of wax has not already been melted up this should be attended to without delay, and the wax sent to a manufacturer of comb-foundation to be made up. 'If there is any quantity of wax to be melted up a wax-press of some description should be obtained —there are several good makes stocked by dealers in beekeepers’ requisites. The press is necessary in dealing with large quantities of wax owing to the retention otherwise of much of the wax by the slum-gum, which is made up very largely of the discarded cocoons of successive generations of larvae. Wax obtained from cappings or combs that have not been used for brood-rearing will not contain much foreign matter.

In the absence of a better equipment, wax may be readily rendered in a kerosene-tin on the kitchen-stove. Place the pieces of comb or cappings to be

reduced in the tin, and add sufficient water to cover them by a good margin; there is no danger of using too much water. When the wax is melted, remove the tin from, the fire and place it in a sheltered place to cool. Do not hasten the cooling process by undue exposure, as slow, cooling affords time for the heavier foreign matter to settle. When cool the wax should be taken out and as much as possible of the accumulated foreign matter scraped off. It should then be broken up and reduced to as small a compass as possible, placed in a bag of scrim or similar porous material, and melted, again to. remove the remaining particles of foreign matter. If the wax is not required for manufacture into' foundation it will sell more readily if run into small moulds similar to patty-pans.

ANTING FOR SHELTER AND BEE-FORAGE

This being the planting season, any contemplated provision of additional shelter or forage for the bees should be attended, to without delay. Tagasaste, commonly called “ tree-lucerne,” is a rapidly growing hedge-plant which can be recommended (if protected from cattle), as it yields an abundance of forage for the bees at a time when this is most valuable. As tagasaste does not transplant very readily the plants will require careful treatment when.received from the nursery. If grown from seed the best results will be obtained by sowing in the early spring. To assist germination the seed should be first steeped in boiling water to which a little washing-soda has been added. Pour on the water and let it stand until quite cold ; this will soften the seed, and, after straining, the addition of a little dry sand will separate it nicely for sowing. It is important that seeds treated in this manner be sown immediately.

The ground should be thoroughly worked (as for onions), and if, as is recommended, a double . row is contemplated the width of the prepared bed should be not less than 4 ft. Sow the seeds three in a place, at a distance of 3 ft. apart and 1 ft. from the edge of the bed on either side, alternating the second row with the first — gives 2 ft. between the rows. Thin out the plants when they have made sufficient growth to the strongest in each place.

Tagasaste is subject to the borer, and while it is an excellent temporary hedge-plant, it cannot be depended on to provide permanent shelter. The giantgrowing privet {Ligustrum sinense) can be recommended for this purpose. It is a gross feeder, its roots extending in time several yards from the base on either side. For a single row a strip 3 ft. in width should be deeply dug,- and if the ground is poor a liberal dressing of bonedust supplied. Select strong two- or three-year-old plants, and plant them i8in. apart along the centre of the prepared ground. To secure a good bottom growth it will be necessary to clip the plants back fairly hard at the time of planting.

Apiary Instructor.

-H.W. Gilling.