APIARY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 214, 10 August 1937, Page 5

APIARY NOTES

WORK IN AUGUST. (By H. F. Dodson, Apiary Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Pal'merston North.) During this month, in the warmer parts of the district, a certain amount of hive activity will he observable. Bees will begin to take short cleansing flights. At the latter part of the month, the spring overhaul may be commenced where weather conditions are favourable. Fairly large patches of brood should be found. Should no brood be found, the hive is possibly queenless and may be closed down for further examination a week or so later, or when next a spell of fine warm weather permits opening up the hives. At this tnnei of year, care should be exercised not to disturb the cluster unduly. Hives that open up in poor conditon wthout brood and are numerically weak, may be advantageously united. This can best be done by the newspaper method. Use only sufficient smoke to keep the bees quiet, and then remove the lid and mats of the stronger colony. In place of the mat spread over a sheet of newspaper so that the top of the hive is completely' covered in. Next, lift the weak hive off its bottom board and place it on top of the sheet of newspaper, making sure that it is flush with the super below. The bees will then gnaw their way out through the newspaper, thus gradually* uniting with those below. Should it be found that the bees do not make any attempt to unite within a day or two, the newspaper may then be punctured with small holes to give the bees a start. In cases where it is found that the bees have deserted the bottom box for the top one, remove the empty one and place the occupied storey, which now becomes the brood-chamber, on the bottom board. The unused combs can be stored .away until the hive requires supering. It is very essential for the encouragement of brood raising that the bees be kept as snug as poss.ble, with as few superfluous combs as possible. If the hive is a strong one and the bees are using the top box for a brood nest, then all that is necessary is to reverse the two boxes, placing the brood chamber on the bottom board and the super above it. It should be remembered that very often spring is conspicuous for its cold winds, and everything should he done to keep the bees snug and warm. All manipulations should be carried out as expeditiously as possible and worn mats and leaky covers replaced. An important point is attention to the bottom board. During the winter, particles of wax, dead bees, pollen and other fragments are apt to collect at the rear of the floor, where they offer harbourage foi lice, damp-, mould, which, if neglec - ed will lead to the floor rotting. Overhauling the hives gives one the opportunity for scraping the bottom boaid clean with a. hive tool. , Grass and weeds which may have grown round the hive should be cleaned away, allowing a free circuit of air underneath the hive and an unobstructed entrance for the bees. Should feeding l>s necessary, the beekeeper will have to guard against robbing which may easily be started by spilling syrup on the ground or over the outside of the hives. Feeding should always be done towards er ening, thus giving the l>ees all night which to overcome the excitement caused by warm syrup. Division hoard feeders are very satisfactory and may l>e filled quickly by means of an old teapot jug or watering can. ' The lid Should be fitted from the back of the hive so that activity is kept away from the entrance. When overhauling, any cracks affording robber bees means of entrance should be noted and repaired. Everything possible to prevent robbing should be done, as if once this becomes started in the apiary it is difficult to eradicate. Where a hive is being attacked by robber bees contract the entrance down to one-bee space. This gives the colony a much smallei opening to defend. A handful of vet grass over the entrance also does much to hinder the attacking bees and thus overcome the robbing.