THE APIARY.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XL, Issue 6, 20 June 1930, Page 424

THE APIARY.

Winter Work.

Spare supers that were left on the hives should now be removed-where it can be done without unduly disturbing the clusterand the bees confined to the brood - chamber. In the northern parts of the Dominion breeding will start in colonies of normal strength at the latter end of July, and every effort should be made to make the bees snug so as to promote breeding. Where the bees have taken to the supers entirely the bottom story is the one to be removed.

During the dormant season mice are likely to make themselves troublesome in the apiary. They attack the stores, and otherwise destroy the ■combs. Many colonies are by this means reduced to the verge of starvation by the spring. • It is the work of only a few minutes to examine the hives, and where gable roofs are adopted the mice-nests will usually be found on top of the mats. To obviate this trouble the entrance should be contracted.

Control of Wax-moth Pest.

In districts where wax-moths are troublesome, particularly the large one (Galleria mellonelld), a periodical examination should be made of all extracting combs. These moths do an enormous amount of damage, particularly in the off season, and especially in districts where mild weather

conditions prevail. The moths not only attack the dry combs, but also ■combs of honey stored for spring feed. Where the moth is prevalent in large numbers a special comb-room is essential, constructed so as' to be nearly airtight and filled with racks on which to suspend the combs to enable fumigants to penetrate the cells. Where only a few combs have to be dealt with these may be stacked in supers, spaced eight to the super, care being exercised to see that the junctions of the boxes are made smoketight by pasting a strip of paper round them. The top box of the pile should contain no frames. Into this place an iron saucepan containing wood embers, and on these throw a small- quantity of sulphur. Close the supers securely, and keep closed for a couple of days. In three weeks to a month a second fumigation should be given.

Bisulphide of carbon may be used to accomplish a similar result. In using this chemical the combs can be stacked in a tight box or supers. If the latter are used all cracks require to be closed with paper pasted on the outsides to prevent the' fumes from escaping. Place a quantity of the bisulphide in an open dish "on top of the combs. The liquid evaporates and the fumes, being heavier than air, settle over the combs, thus effectively killing the moths. This operation may have to be repeated during the winter months. Great care must be exercised when using the bisulphide, as it is highly explosive and dangerous, and on no account must a fire or light be allowed near the liquid when being used.

During the past two seasons Cyanogas (calcium cyanide) has been very successfully used in destroying bees by Apiary Instructors whose duties have called for the destruction of diseased colonies preparatory to burning. The active agent of calcium cyanide is liberated in the form of hydrocyanicacid gas, which is a most deadly poison to all life. However, it can be used with safety because the liberation from the powder of the gas is slow, thus allowing the operator to retire after giving a charge. Fumigation of combs may be done in supers, after taking the precaution of making them gastight, in the same way as when using sulphur or bisulphide. In the event of a comb-room being used the supers containing the combs can be stacked criss-cross or placed on the racks usually provided. No other preparation is necessary. In operation the calcium-cyanide powder should be sprinkled on paper and placed under the tiers of supers or here and there about the buildings. For super-fumigation it is recommended to use a dose of 4 lb. to 100 cubic ft. of space. Half the quantity will suffice for airtight comb-rooms. These dosages will kill the moths in all stages. As already indicated, the gas, being deadly to all life, must be handled with great care. The writer has used calcium cyanide in the open air for killing bees and has watched its deadly results. Caution, however, is necessary when the chemical is used in buildings. The operator should leave the building as soon as possible, and lock the doors and windows. Twenty-four hours’ treatment will suffice, after which the door of the room should be opened to allow the gas to escape, the building not being entered for from two to three hours.

Plans for next Season.

The off season is the best time to make plans for the following season. The beekeeper should decide what increase he desires to make, and should prepare accordingly. Making up hives and frames is exasperating work if left till the bees are in urgent need of room, and it should be finished long before the actual time for increasing one’s stock arrives. The beekeeper should also face the question of providing himself with stocks of foundation, and make arrangements for the treatment of his surplus wax by some neighbouring maker of foundation.. He should also decide on which market to place his crop, and lay his plans accordingly. It is advisable, too, that he consider the theoretical side of his occupation, and study, while the bees

are in a dormant condition, the best methods of improving his stocks. Neither weathei conditions nor locality nor any other factor will influence the honey-crop so much as strong colonies of bees, and the apiarist should endeavour, while he has the time, to ensure that these shall be in existence during the coming summer.

E. A. Earp,

Senior Apiary Instructor, Wellington.