EXPORT OF PUREBRED DAIRY CATTLE.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 21 March 1927, Page 185

EXPORT OF PUREBRED DAIRY CATTLE.

In 1926 a total of forty-one head of purebred dairy cattle were exported from New Zealand. Of these, fourteen went to Argentina, twenty-three to Australia, three to Fiji, and one to Tonga, their total declared value being £3,521. This compares with ninety-three head of a value of £5,200 exported for the preceding year. It will be noted that, though the number of cattle exported showed a falling-off, the average value per head shows a very marked increase.— Dairy Division.

Minor Materials and Products of the Hive. — Pollen is collected on the bodyhairs of the bee, and is carried to the hive in the pollen-baskets on the posterior legs. Stored. in the cells adjacent to the brood, it is mixed with honey, and is fed as required by the nurse bees in the process of feeding the young larvae. Lack of pollen retards, if not altogether prevents, the bees from rearing the young during the larval stage. .Propolis, or bee-glue, is a resinous substance gathered by the bees from the buds and limbs of trees. It is used to stop up cracks and crevices in the hives, more particularly in the autumn months. Propolis is troublesome to the beekeeper in some districts, making it well-nigh impossible to manipulate the frames unless they are staple-spaced. Tar is often gathered in liberal quantities as a substitute for propolis. Beeswax is not gathered by the bees, as is commonly supposed, but is produced during the process of comb-building. A high temperature is necessary for the secretion of wax. The bees hang in clusters in a state of repose, consuming honey in the meantime, which, being converted into wax, is formed into scales on the wax-plates on the under-side of the abdomen of the workers. It is estimated that from 10 lb. to 12 lb. of honey is consumed to produce 1 lb. of wax. Bulletin No. 128, “ Beekeeping.”