THE HONEY CROP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2612, 6 November 1915, Page 13

THE HONEY CROP

SEASON'S PROSPECTS. The Director of the Horticultural Division has received from the Apiary Instructors tho following reports concerning honey crop prospects:—

Auckland. —The weather during the pa-st month has been wot and stormy the bees have been unablo t-o gather much. Wo now want warm weather as there is an abundance of clover in blossom. Tho bees generally have wintered fairly well. Wellington.—The bee-keeper being entirely dependent on the weather conditions for his annual crop, it is extremely difficult to estimate the crop returns until after Christmas. Clover does not secreto nectar unless the temperature is over 70 degrees no matr to if rain is plentiful. Tho prospects at the present timo aro/.howovor, good iu most districts, and with bee-keepers' ideal conditions, alternate showers aiid sunshine, a very prosperous season may result.

Christ-church.—Forward colonies are storing honey in supers. There havo been some nice showers in Canterbury and Marlborough which were much needed, and will have a beneficial effect on the early honey flow. Swarms have been reported from several districts. Clovers are beginning to show up nicely and present prospects are encouraging.

4 Dunedin.—G!ood, refreshing showers have been experienced in South Canterbury and North Otago districts, and bee-keepers aro now more hopeful of a surplus. In Southland very cold weather has compelled the bee-keepers lo start feeding, but the prospects aro brighter than at this period last year. Little honev in bulk ir. offering, and i beeswax still remains scarce.