HONEY CROP PROSPECTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2637, 7 December 1915, Page 8

HONEY CROP PROSPECTS

REPORTS FOR. NOVEMBER,. The Director of the Horticulture Di--."ision lias, received from the Apiary'lnstructors tho following reports concerning honey crop prospects:— Auckland.—The past month has been exceptionally wet and stormy, and some hcckeepcrs have "had to agaiii start feeding .to prevent; starvation. This month has openedrwith,better prospects and tliere: should-;be , a fair amount of ''honey gathered,- as 1 there is."an abundance-of; clover iii'blossom. _■. * • .! ,*. . Wellingten.-r-The; weather :is.''still very: far from beinc; kind'to the beekeepers, : and it is difficult to estimate what, the season will finally result in. Feeding in somo. parts is_ still being continued, hut in the districts Vhere there has heen ample spring food, the bees -are in good condition. The combined:wind and rough weather must' eventually hlow itself out, and then the fine weather that, should result will be made the most of by the bees. Beeswax is Quoted at Is. sd. per lb. Oliristcliurch.—Uuriiie November tho weather in Canterbury has been erratic and iinfacourable for beekeopinc. Hiuh' winds; have been frequent practically . drying up the around to such an extent that there lii\s been very little secretion of .nectar. In the higher country towards the. hills one or two severe frosts have cut the clover down; Thinas ■ are at present hot so.hopeful, as there .'•are many/stooks dying of starvation. 1.l soiiio localities.'beekeepers will have to feed to save what stocks they .have . managed to-piill'thrcniah so far. A fortnight's good soakirig rain would be welcomo to, stave off a season such as : we had last year: ;,••/ ; i Diinedin .—Reports to hand uoint to n, fair p.verage crop. In Southland more especially in bush'. districts the bees art>, in fine order, mild' weather enabling them to work the native ■ flowering plants. Generally," the clover nastures are in good heart, and in situations the . clover is heir." worked freely.': In South Canterbury .the.- pastures are dry. and early rains r.ro desired. Honey.. none . offering.. . Beeswax; is scarce. . Market price to Is. Gd. per lb. ;