APIARY NOTES

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 62, Issue 5, 15 May 1941, Page 363

APIARY NOTES

Contributed by Officers i — : of the I Horticulture Division i io ' • I s

Crop Reports for 1940-41 Season

A BRIEF summary of reports received by the Director of the Horticulture Division from Apiary Instructors on the . honey crop for the. past season in various districts throughout New Zealand is given below. Auckland and North Auckland. — Favourable weather conditions for nectar secretion predominated during most of December, but rainfall was below average; consequently, pastures dried off much quicker than usual. Good rains during January were offset by drying winds, and altogether the season has been disappointing, with ' crops below average around Auckland, but fairly good in North Auckland areas because of the sources,,especially white and red rata, yielding late and much better than usual. Hamilton, South Auckland. A dry spell in December seriously affected the growth of white clover, but heavy rains during January saved the situation. Beekeepers found their first extraction darker in colour than usual through the bees having reached teatree sources. Although the crop was better, than last- season the storage of thick honey seriously affected the final returns' as the supers did not yield the quantity, of extractable honey expected. Hastings. Good rains during January, revived the pastures and provided an excellent growth of white clover. Conditions generally remained favourable, and excellent crops of good quality honey have been secured in most parts throughout Hawke’s Bay. Average to poor elsewhere in the Hastings inspection district.

, Palmerston North.— -During the early part of December a fairly substantial honey flow from mixed sources was experienced, clover gradually predominating in most areas. Although the general, condition of pastures, remained good, the bees were unable to work all floral sources to the maximum because of adverse weather, conditions. Consequently the crop as a whole was lighter than last year. k

— December was a dry month, but pastures were in good condition and were yielding, well in MidCanterbury. and North Canterbury, while on Banks Peninsula the season to the end of December was the best experienced for. many years. As the season progressed conditions became too dry in most localities, especially in North Canterbury and Plains areas. The crop over the whole province will not exceed an average one, although individual beekeepers whose hives were strong in bees early in the season secured crops a little better than average. __ Otago and Southland.— the exception of North Otago, where conditions were very dry, all pastures and flowering trees were showing well at the end of December, and by the end of January prospects were bright for. heavy crops in Otago and Southland. Hot weather and strong, winds which followed, however, soon dried, up pas ture lands; consequently, the honey flow practically ceased early ,in February, and although crops generally are lighter than at first expected, the total crop is better than last year. Dry conditions in North Otago were responsible for crop failures. _ Greymouth.— Prospects were good early in the season throughout Westland, Nelson, and Marlborough districts, but changeable weather in Westland during January eased up the honey flow considerably, and rata did not flower to any great extent this year. Honey crops secured, however, are 60 to 100 per cent, better than last year in all areas. Seasonal Work The chief need for securing a surplus crop of honey from the main flow which will occur during November, December, and January next -season, according to location in New Zealand, is the presence of an enormous population of young worker bees at the beginning of the. flow. In order that a colony may have the necessary

population at the right time, it must reach the spring period, which begins in September in most parts, with a good force of young bees that have not expended all their vitality during the winter period. The losses following starvation are no less serious a menace *to the beekeeper than disease. There are also other factors, such as shelter, waterproof hives, correct ventilation, and young queens, all of which play a part in the wintering problem, as described in previous notes in the “Journal,” but, above all, a supply of sufficient food to meet the requirements of the bees between seasons is essential. Food Supply Experience has shown that where colonies are provided in the autumn with 351 b. to 401 b. of honey they will winter well and build up rapidly the following spring in most districts. Calculating on the basis that a full comb contains approximately 51b. of . honey, it is easy to estimate the weight of honey in each hive. Beekeepers should realise that the foundation for a crop of honey is laid the previous autumn, and should provide the bees with a liberal supply of honey on- which to winter. Drones and Queens Drones are not tolerated in a normal colony during the winter, and where they are found in a hive at this' time of the year it indicates that the colony is either queenless or has a failing queen. In either case the colony should not be allowed to continue in that state, but should be united to, another colony of medium strength. The queen depends upon a force of young worker bees to carry her through the winter, and similarly the workers depend upon the queen and an adequate food supply to maintain the strength of'the colony in the spring when the autumn-raised worker bees die off rapidly. ' \

APIARY NOTES. Continued from

page 363. Winter Inspection While little, if any, work is necessary out in the apiary during the dormant period, an occasional inspection of the bees should'be made to see that everything is in order, but on no account should the bees be unnecessarily disturbed, especially when they have gone into their winter cluster. All the top boxes that have not yet been removed should now be taken off the hives and the bees confined to their winter quarters. . After heavy ' rains it is advisable to examine the mats over the frames, and any damp mats should be replaced. , '

—T. S. WINTER,

Senior Apiary

Instructor, Wellington.