BEEKEEPERS' CLUB.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16437, 3 February 1919, Page 4

BEEKEEPERS' CLUB.

FIELD DAY AT HALS WEI.f„ PROSPECTS (IF THE HONEY INDUSTRY. Between thirty aud forty members oi the Christchuteh Amateur IJeckcepers' Club spent au enjoyable ana profitable beld day on Saturday afternoon at the apiary on the Valo Royal Estate, Halswell, which is being managed lor Mr J. E. Turnbull by Mr A. if. Emerson, a returned soldier. The majority of the members • went out by moLor, the attendance bciny tiighly satisfactory ia view ol the Lnreatemng weather. Amongst those present were Mr E- A. Earp, (ioverninent Apiary iustructor, and Mr T. S. Winter, Go>ernment Apiary Inspector. The Yale Koyal apiary i 3 situated some little distanec beyond the HhjSwell township, aud consists of IL2 colonies which were established last July, and from which it is anticipated that the vicld for the season just drawing to a close will be about two tons. The apiary, which is admirably laid out, is located on a low spur of the foothills. There is a commodious honey house, which is being rapidly fitted with all the necessarv accessories for a model apiary. The whole of the apiary has been built, up from foundations, and would have been in a further state oi development if supplies had been available. The experts present on Saturday expressed the opinion that the results obtained, in view of the. apiary having been built up during the present seasou, were highly creditable to Mr Emerson, who, prior to joining the Expeditionary Force, hafl some previous experience in the management of bees. During the afternoon ■ several hives were ope'ned up and inspected, the demonstrators being Mr "Winter and Mr L. Jiowman (formerly Government

Apiary Instructor and Inspector, ami now tin: club's instructor). Mr "Winter gave a practical address dealing principally with the treatment ol' pollen-clognjcd combs, and Mr Kowntan dealt with the question of making small increases in an apiary without .sacrificing tbc boney crop and at the same time checking the desire to swarm. Both speakers illustrated their remarks with practical demonstrations.

Mr Harp, in response to an invitation, gave a brief address, in which he expressed his pleasure at being present at and knowing that one of tho club's members liacl embarked on commercial beekeeping:: he -hoped that other members would do similarly. New Zealand, he said, could produce honey that, could command as high a price' as that produced anywhere in the world. At present there could be no such thing as over-production of honey. Now that the war was over there, was a reasonable hope that the 7000 or 8000 eases of honey would be shipped Home before the present season's crop was ready to go forward: during the past fortnight 1200 cases had been shipped and would command very high prices. Although pikes had receded honey to-day was bringing, approximately. between £150 and £200 per ton. They could not hope always to get such prices: but the co-operative company of beekeepers had a guarantee for three years after the war of not less i tliau £70 V er tou - This was an excellent price front the beekeepers' point of view, and .should encourage those who had embarked on commercial beekeeping to go on. He congratulated the club on its activities, and hoped thai the club and the Canterbury Beekeeper.*', Association would work iu harmony ; be aiso. congratulated Mr Khk'i ."-on on his venture,- and said that Mr Jlrnerson was putting beekeeping to th<? t»\st. 'Referring to the registration of apiaries. Mr TCarp said that those apiaries •which, were registered in 10 17 need not be re-registered until June, 1920;bufc ip the case of apiaries which were transferred, or in the ease of new apiaries, they must be registered'within 21 days of their transfer, or of their establishment: under the regulations one hive constituted -an apiary and must, be registered. ' At present, including himself, there were ] three ' officers of the Department of Agriculture operating on behaif of apiarists m the South Island, and lie j understood that befckeeners' associa- j tions were asking lor the appointment of two more. This was of great importance to beekeepers, as the greater j number of inspectors there was. , the j more instruction it would be possible I to give. j

Later those present were the guests of Mr Turn bill I at afternoon tea in the honej- house. ' Mr K. F. Sullivan, president of th« club, thanked Mr and .Mrs Emerson for tlie opportunity given to the members of the club to visit the apiary. They congratulated Mr .Emerson, as one of tho first members of the club on taking up commercial beekeeping, and assured M r and Mrs Emerson that their fellowmembers wished them success in thoir vouture. From what Air Bowman had told him, there was a real good time ahead for both of them. On behalf of the club he thanked Mr Turnbuil for the afternoon tea, and Air Earp for his address. In response to Mr toullivan's call, very hearty cheers were given for Mr and Airs Emerson.

Mr J5. E. Patten, secretary of the club, said it was most gratifying to see so large a gathering,'and aiso to have the presence of tlie -departmental officers. A statement, wnolly unauthorised, had been circulated that the club did not want the Government inspectors at their held days. He believed that ho was expressing the opinion of the overwhelming majority ot members that they welcomed tho Government/experts, and wanted to beneiit by their knowledge and experience. Referring to the price of honey, Mr Patten said that the latest advice received from one of his linn's agents at Home was tiiat a consignment had been sold at per ton.

Mr L. Jiowman congratulated the club on its progress, anu said that he wished to mane it very plain that its members had absolutely no animosity again&t the Canterbury JBeokeopers' Association—(applause)—and desired to co-operate wnu it to tho fullest possible extent. li was most encouraging to noto the enthusiasm shown by tho mem be it. of ttio club at the demonstrations and at the meetings of the club. They desired to make their little hobby pay, and he was 01 opinion that those wiio took up beekeeping as a hobby were likely to be the discoverers of improved metnods, and of means for combating disease. The whole secret of beekeeping was just a matter of common-sonse; if they applied their knowledge in a practical way tbey would find tnat they would make bees a success. In Canterbury, livo years ago., honey was only worth 2id per lb; now it was worth Bill to S)d: and, if exported, they could getas high as £182, which, after deducting freight and other charges., represented about- £150 per ton —a very handsome price. If they went in for honey for export he advised them to turn out honey only in the very best condition, so tnat customers would be pleased with it, and come back with a repeat order. To ensure this the honey should be well ripened, and should not be extracted except when it was weil sealed. Mr Earp said that Canterbury offered as good an opening for beekeeping as any other part of tho Dominion. Ttieie were many large apiaries in the Dominion, but none fo well-equipped as i.ht« one he bad just inspected. The 1 business of producing lionoj- must he j specialised if it was to be successful: I compeliiion w.t- Mich that- it. was the I dj;mi. >\ho_ who would cornel u-- *ii loi>. Ail ever the nor!d bee-

' keepers wero moving on commcrejal lines. America, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries were becoming competitors in the big markets or the world, and Now Zealand apiarists mu=t moTo on up-to-date, sound, practical lines. Mr Emerson had started on good lines, and he (the speaker) hoped that -when the club held its nest iicld day at his apiary, they would find the honey house remodelled. and everything; up-to-date. He assured the members of the club that they would get nil possible assistance from the department's officers. 'Mr-Emerson, oil behall' of Mr 'I urnhull, acknowledged the rote oi' thanks accorded the cltiVs host. He said that a start was made with the establishment of the apiary last, July. He hoped the member* of the club would visit the apiarr next year. Cheers for Mr Turubull. and for Mr and 'Mrs Emerson, brought the gathering to a conclusion.