BEEKEEPING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 244, 12 September 1940, Page 12

BEEKEEPING.

A PROFITABLE SIDELINE. (Continued.) IToney for export is graded, and tlio quality depends largely on the type of flower which the bees visit". The bee inspector. Department of Agriculture, nan be consulted on this matter. Everyone keeping bees must notify the inspector for registration and inspection purposes. To prepare honey for sale, an extractor is required. If the farmer is intending to produce only enough honey for his own use, then it would not be worth his while investing in a honey extractor, the cheapest of which is about £7 13s Ho should concentrate more on the production of section honey, i.e., honey in square lib combs. This necessitates that each super added should contain ten section frames costing 2s-for 10. Each section frame will contain 8 sections, costing 8s 6d per 100. The lowest storey of the hive, sometimes called the brood chamber, should contain ten of the ordinary Hoffman frames costing 3s for ten. ft will not be long after the beginner has received his bees in the late spring that he can expect to meet the swarming problem and to deal with swarms. Although it is not considered good practico to allow swarming ■ to occur, the owner might wish to' increase the number of colonies in his possession and will welcome a first swarm. In general, the swarming season may bo expected in the spring or early 6ummer shortly after the time the bees have produced the greatest amount of brood. Swarming is the bees’ natural method of forming new colonies and this desire to swarm is usually brought about or encouraged by the congestion of bees in the hive, especially within the brood chamber, and by lack of ventilation. Colonies with old queens are also more likely to swarm than those having young queens. HIVING THE SWARM. Where convenient, a prepared hive with the cover removed may be placed directly beneath the swarm. There should not be more than two or three feet between the swarm and the hive. Some of the frames should be removed to allow space for the swarm to bo dropped in. Take a firm hold of the branch on which tils bees are situated and give it a sharp jerk when most or all of the bees will fall into the hive. If one has to use a step ladder to get up to the swarm it may be necessary to use a special swarming box, which consists of a box about 14 inches square by 12 inches deep, with a hinged top. This is light and can easily bo held in one arm while using the free hand to shake the branch. The bees can then be transferred to a hive at dusk. Some of the earlier swarming colonies are capable of throwing off one or two after-swarms. If p'ossiblo, this must be prevented, otherwise the parent colonies will become weak and unproductive. No matter what is done, it is not always possible to prevent swarming, and when an increase is not wanted swarming is a nuisance. If it is known from which hive the swarm issued, the trouble may be overcome by returning the swarm. Jake it in the usual way and hive it hnmediately alongside the parent hive. Next morning go through the latter and cull out all queen ceils, care being taken not to miss any. Then place the swarm with its hive body as a top super on the original hive and close down.

At the beginning of May in each hive there Bhould not be loss than one fu*'l super of honey. Unless absolutely necessary, it is not advisable to meddle with the hives during winter CONCLUSION.

Naturally, one of the questions'asked by those who contemplate taking up beekeeping is what may bo the annual amount of honey which can be expected from each I colon}’. Much depends upon the skill and 'patience of the bee-man but other factors, such as location, climatic conditions, and regularity of feed supply, also play a major part. Under favourable conditions with reasonable care and skill from 1001 b to 2001 b of honey may bo obtained. I Bees form a very interesting hobby and a profitable sideline which in suitable districts could be built up into one of the major sources of farm income. They arc also of value in that they tend to increase I the clover seed and the fruit crops, by 1 fertilisation of the flowers.