Seasonal Work for Beekeepers

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 69, Issue 2, 15 August 1944, Page 164

Seasonal Work for Beekeepers

Apiary Management

A UGUST is the month that generally marks the commencement of a new season for the beekeeper. Correct apiary management in the autumn is reflected in the successful wintering of bees; it also has a very great bearing on the ultimate results secured in the coming season. Colonies with young queens of good breeding and supplied with ample honey and pollen are in ideal condition to survive the rigours of our worst winter and build up in the spring into populous colonies, capable of bringing in large crops. Good Beekeeping The three main principles required for successful beekeeping are:— (1) Good equipment; (2) Good bees; (3) Correct apiary management. Before the commencement of a new season every beekeeper should look back on the results of last season’s activities and consider if the crop was as good as it should have, been. Perhaps the hive equipment was in such a dilapidated state that many of the colonies died out during the winter and the greater part of the honey flow was used in replenishing stocks, or the bees may have deteriorated into such a poor strain, through lack of systematic queen rearing, that the colonies did not have the force of worker bees necessary to bring in big crops of honey during the season. Perhaps when the honey flow came on with a rush the apiarist ■ found most of his stored combs had been ruined by mice or the ravages of the wax moth, and by the time these were

replaced with comb foundation the honey flow was past its peak. Now is the time to resolve that the bees are going to get the required amount of attention in order that they can prove just what they are capable of doing under favourable conditions and treatment. Work for Month Beginners in beekeeping should not be carried away with the idea that because this is the first inspection of the season it will be necessary to pull the hives completely to pieces. The first inspection should be carried out with the greatest speed and the minimum, of disturbance to the bees. At this inspection the beekeeper should ascertain the following: Has each colony sufficient sealed honey to carry it on to the time when the first spring flora may become available to the bees provided weather conditions are favourable; also, has each colony a laying queen and to what extent has brood rearing developed, and is all hive equipment in the apiary sound? Foul Brood It is generally considered! that September or the early part of October is the most suitable time to detect any infection that may have been picked up during the autumn and winter. By this time weather conditions should have improved and the strength of the hives greatly increased, thus preventing the risk of the brood being chilled while closely examining every brood comb. It should be remembered that any

manipulations with the bees should always be carried out as expeditiously as possible. This will avoid any chance of chilling the delicate brood and tend to check the possibility of

starting a severe case of robbing in the apiary. Honey Requirements /The amount of stores used in a normal winter is very small in proportion to the amount consumed once brood rearing commences in the spring. Scientific investigation in America has recently proved that an enormous amount of pollen is consumed by a colony during the season. Pollen is just as essential as honey for the development of the larval bee. It would, therefore, be unwise to discard too many pollen-clogged combs, as they may be very useful during a period of unfavourable weather. When a colony has no sealed honey at this time of the year, it is then necessary to supplement its stores immediately. Only colonies definitely short of food should be artifically fed at this period. Suitable food is prepared by mixing sugar syrup in the strength of approximately two parts sugar to one of warmed water, dissolving the sugar thoroughly. Method of Feeding . Division board feeders are favoured by most commercial beekeepers, being very suitable 'for rapid feeding, and no other equipment is required. They are made either of tin-plate or three-ply wood to approximately the same dimensions as a frame. (Fig. 1.) When made of wood the feeder requires to be dipped in hot paraffin

wax to prevent leakage of the syrup. Inside the feeder is a loose piece of wood which rises to the surface as the liquid is poured in. This acts as a float which prevents the bees from drowning in the syrup. To use this type of feeder an empty comb heeds to be removed (generally the outside one), and the feeder placed as near as possible to the brood nest by adjusting the frames accordingly. This enables the bees quickly to locate and remove the syrup. Once this feeder is in place all that is necessary is quietly to turn back one edge of the hive mat and pour in the required amount of warm syrup. All feeding operations should be carried out towards evening to avoid the possibility of robbing. Friction Top Tin Feeder This type of feeder is not suitable for a commercial beekeeper, as it requires the use of an empty super, but would meet the requirements of smaller beekeepers in view of its cheapness and ease of manipulation. Any clean, sound tin having a large tight-fitting lid can be used, e.g., 51b. or 101 b. honey tins. The lid is punctured with about 20 holes made with a nail of a size used in assembling frames. To conserve the heat of the hive it is advisable to cut a round hole in the centre of the mat of slightly less diameter than the lid of the tin. The mat can then be used for successive feeding purposes. Another method of preparing the mat' is by marking a square in the centre of a size that can be covered by the tin and then cutting three sides only. (Fig. 2.) The flap is folded back on the fourth side. After feeding this flap can be turned back into its original position.

When the tin has been filled with warm syrup and the lid is firmly pressed on, it should be quickly inverted over the hole in the mat. (Fig. 3.) Now place an empty super over the tin and replace hive lid. This method of feeding places the syrup right over the brood nest and enables the bees to have access to it during all kinds of weather. The vacuum created in the bottom of the tin when it is turned upside down prevents the syrup from leaking out, but allows

the bees to suck it out through the small holes in the lid. Summary « It must be remembered that feeding in the early spring is for the purpose of replenishing stores and is an indication generally that the beekeeper has failed to leave sufficient honey when closing the bees down in the autumn. Feeding at this period of the season should not be confused with stimulative feeding resorted to at a later date to encourage maximum brood rearing. On fine days quickly check over all colonies and note:— (1) Amount of stores (honey and pollen) available; (2) Condition of queen (laying or otherwise); (3) Condition of equipment. Clean floor boards of all debris accumulated during the winter and. replace any damaged or wet hive mats or lids. Make the colonies as compact and comfortable as possible by removing any supers of empty combs. Clean all grass from around the hives and prevent excessive dampness and deterioration of equipment.

—C. R. PATERSON,

Apiary

Instructor, Hamilton.