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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 41, 17 February 1881, Page 4

«ghMs^-_a___wn^_^.mu'-_w . . Humble Bees. — The "Timaru Herald" of Monday says : — The two queens the survivors of a shipment bf eighteen consigned to Mrs Belfield, were turned out on Mr Bristol's farm on Saturday morning. They were, strong and healthy, and flew away briskly against the wind. . Being liberated amidst clover fields, there is every chance of their doing well. Some years ago the present Premier of New Zealand attempted the introduction of this useful insect, but unsuccessfully; the last of the creatures dying when within about ten day's sail of our CGast, Not being aware' of any successful attempt at their acclimatisation being made heretofore, we be lieve that the pair of queens set free on Saturday havo tho honor to be tho first of their Kind in this country. The thanks of farmers are specially due to. the -lady, who, wheu in England about three years ago, saw Mr Neighbour (a somewhat celebrated apiarian-- at home) , on the subject of sending humble bees to New Zealand. Mr. Neighbour, took up the matter con amofrc, and promised when opportunity offered to send out a consignment,' at. the- same time pointing out the risk attending such a shipment. That gentleman spared neither trouble nor expense in endeavoring to make the. : venture a success. In the first place i he employed.an agent in a district in Scot- ( land where tlie bees were usually plen- . tiful to mark down the nests in the , summer, and then in the early part of the winter each nest, with its queen, was carefully dug oufc and placed sep- ; arately in a nest of moss in a box for export. Being in a state of torpor when taken from their Scottish home, ; ifc was a sine qua non that they should continue in that state the whole of the •voyage to the antipodes, consequently 'they were placed in the hothouse of the '■ John Elder, one of the Orient line of . steamers, on arrival at Melbourne the box was handed over to the captain of ; the Arawata to carry on to New Zeal-' and. From the appearance of fully one half of the dead insects, there is every reason to believe that they were alive on arrival .at the Bluff. But unfortunately a delay in their transit here took place, which was fatal to all but- two.' The telegram to Mrs Belfield telling, of, their arrival was dated the 31st ultimo, at the same timo intimating that the Arawata came in on the 26th, Yetfurther delay took place, and the iriterr esting strangers did not arrive in Timaru till the 3rd inst. ■ • Mjr f HJslpp, late of the Titnaru Domain, kindly took' charge of the box, and opened >, it; oufc; with the result above stated. To our' readers who. are ipt .farmers, and -^nomay be.ighoi^ht 6£|jtbe_vdk.e,6f humble, bees, we may state- that tbeir great, usefulnes lies in ; impregnating 1 red 1 clover their long probosces. .enabling them to .reach; the pollen of jthe plant.,- ' •! "' '■' ;'u v. V [\'\ • ' ; :AA