Beekeeping on West Coast of South Island

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 94, Issue 2, 15 February 1957, Page 167

Beekeeping on West Coast of South Island

By

D. W. A. SEAL,

Apiary Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Invercargill

BEEKEEPING conditions on the west coast of the South Island are such that large-scale feeding of colonies, as practised in other parts of New Zealand in early spring, is rarely necessary, and though extremely wet weather prevents any beekeeping activity at times, the long season during which many bush nectar sources are available, even in the poorest season, ensures a crop of honey that will at least cover expenses. K 1 r /

A PART from small areas of pas•**‘tured river flats and areas known as “pakahi” land the district is mostly hilly to mountainous bush-clad country in which rata provides the main source of nectar for surplus crops of honey. In the early part of the season there is usually a variety and profusion of bush flora which provide an abundance of nectar suitable for early spring build-up of the hives; also, before the main honey flow begins, honey dew is available in some areas from black birch, which greatly assists the bees during early brood rearing. Kamahi is the next to bloom; it is followed by rata, on which beekeepers depend for the main crop of honey. Unfortunately the flavour of kamahi honey is very strong and it is not suit-

able for blending unless it is mixed with large quantities of mild-flavoured honey. Kamahi usually secretes nectar in abundance, and if the strength of colonies is allowed to develop early in the season, bees will store a large surplus from this source, which tends to reduce the quantity stored later from rata. This is largely overcome by beekeepers who practise a system of hive management which retards early colony development and allows the main build-up to take place over the kamahi nectar flow period in readiness for the main crop to be gathered from rata and less prolific but important sources of nectar such as blackberry, which grows in profusion on waste lands. When rata is in bloom every effort should be made by the beekeeper to see that , the bees have sufficient comb room for storage. In a good rata season where this work has not been attended to on time the bees have

been known to build their combs on the outside of the hive under overhanging covers and also under high floor boards so great was the quantity of nectar gathered from that source when conditions were favourable. Pro-

longed rainfall is the greatest drawback to beekeeping on the coast, where it has been known to rain continuously for several weeks. A rainfall of lOOin. per annum is common in some areas. It would be impossible to set down a standard of apiary management for the coast as a whole, as even within the district there are variations from one place to another. It can really be divided into six different districts, each with its own characteristics, such as weather and nectar-producing blooming periods. Karamea-Westport In the northern part of the area (Karamea-Westport) commercial beekeeping is not practised much and in the main beekeeping is on a domestic scale. The main reason is that large areas of “pakahi” land which have been cleared of bush now lie barren, growing little more than stunted rushes and providing no source of nectar. Small, pastured areas and distant bush are the only available

sources and as the rata tree blooms in profusion in about 3-yearly periods, very little nectar is gathered during an off-season. Barrytown Area Farther south in the Barrytown area conditions are much better. Here the season is one of the earliest, but as the district is only a narrow strip between sea and hills, foraging bees must travel rather long distances. The crop from this area, though small, is usually of fair quality and also provides early stores which can be used to advantage by apiarists who have colonies in the higher areas where the season begins much later. Usually queen bees • start laying about the middle of August and normally the hives require spring cleaning and colony adjustment early in October. Queen supersedure can be expected any time from the middle of September onward. Gathering of crops can be completed by December or early January, as in most seasons all bush flora has then finished blooming. Unlike other areas, a little rata blooms each year in addition to the usual triennial blooming and yields sufficient rata nectar, which, blended with a little kamahi, provides a honey of average flavour. Ikamatua Over the hills from Barrytown is Ikamatua, another slightly different area. Here nectar sources are mixed, being from both bush and pasture land. Queen raising can be carried out

with success, as the weather is more stable and this area has an abundance of honey dew early in the season suitable for feeding to bees. Queen bees reared in September can provide sufficient bees to gather a full crop the first season, but as colonies progress so rapidly considerable' trouble is experienced retarding their progress o avoid excessive storage of honey dew and kamahi. Swarming is prevalent and a constant watch is necessary to avoid loss of swarms which. can be overcome by splitting up of colonies, but this method has its limits. Two queen colonies can be worked with favourable results. As in all west coast districts a surplus of bees is among the main worries of the beekeeper early in the season. Greymouth District In the vicinity of Greymouth very little beekeeping is practised, mainly owing to lack of suitable bush areas. The existing bush is mainly kamahi with the remaining hills clad ; only with poor pasture, gorse, and broom. Otira Gorge Farther east in the Otira Gorge area rata blooms in profusion in good years and excellent crops are obtained from the ranges on each side, which are studded with crimson bloom up to the snowline. Here again kamahi is prevalent earlier in the season. Drawbacks, however, are a dearth of pollen in some

seasons and also heavy rainfall and high winds which cause much damage to colonies.

Harihari-Whataroa

Farther south at Harihari and Whataroa is another slightly different area with high mountainous country in the east and flat pasture lands to the west. Crops of mixed sources are normally gathered with an abundance of rata in good years. Sufficient honey from manuka and flax is produced to darken crops in occasional years.

Franz Josef

High rainfalls occur in this area, as they do farther south at Franz Josef, where colonies can be brought to their peak as soon as possible with safety. It is yet to be determined whether the kamahi in this area produces a better grade of nectar or whether sources of nectar available are sufficiently mixed to blend out its strong flavour, or whether high rainfall prevents bees gathering an excess of any particular nectar. Honey dew does not exist and crops normally are of good average grade.

Generally, the season starts on the lower levels about mid-August and about mid-October in higher and more southern districts. Apiarists can be successful only by studying the bush flora and activity of the bees under local conditions. Weather must be taken into account and every fine day used to advantage. Fortunately a large percentage of the rainfall is at night, but prolonged cloudy weather with showers prevails for several weeks in some areas.

Where honey dew and kamahi are troublesome an endeavour to requeen with the aid of nuclei should be made annually. The making up of nuclei in September or October reduces the strength of existing colonies to advantage and if division boards are used, the hives can remain in this condition until about the end of November. They can then be united by the newspaper method (described on page 383 of the October issue of “The Journal”) to be at their peak should a rata flow begin.

When colonies are held back, however, the brood nests may become clogged with . honey. An abundant supply of foundation is therefore an advantage in spring. Surplus kamahi or honey dew may be put aside to be used later for stores. Rata honey is definitely unsuitable for winter stores owing to rapid granulation in the combs. Many a beekeeper has found his honey a solid mass after less than a week in the tank after extraction.

Any person who contemplates taking up beekeeping on the west coast of the South Island should first consult the local Apiary Instructor regarding local conditions and available nectar

sources.