GISBORNE BEE-FARMERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 8

GISBORNE BEE-FARMERS.

;."■■ EXPORT PROSPECTS. The. Poverty Bay Bee-farmers' Association held- its annual meeting the other day, and discussed, a, number of matters affecting the bee industry. It was decided-to move in the direction, of federating, the six bee-keepers' associa-. tions_ which are'now in existence. Tho association has Tbeen urging for some time that expert bee-keepers should be appointed- as inspectors ; and instructors, but complains that the Government will do attention to the ma.t|ter._ Visiting inspectors have, not time to inspect all the hives and give bec- | farmers the advice and assistance they I need. . . .. Honey to the value of from £350 to £650 is annually exported from the.-Do-minion, .and at the meeting a letter was ""read-from Mr. T. W. Kirk, director of orchards, gardens, and apiaries, stating that he had'asked -the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company to make inquiries of their London office as to the Hone market" for honey, and, had: received the following report: "hv reply to your query wo have' to say that honey of a-light-gold or straw colour is liked best in , this,market,■ and provided that the flavour and consistency >ro .good, we think that -40s: per' cwt. 'could be obtained, if. supplies-are ,; kept within :.moderato compass, ■ ■ as'. there is -not an unlimited demand for this ar'ticle. The consistency should be .-..as smooth-as'possible; and not granulated.' We.,can.. only recommend' the -sending forward.of'first-class 'honey, , as the inferior descriptions are no use for table purposes, .and only, come into competition: with, the West' Indian'and other qualities fetching, a low price." \