PARALYSES AMONG BEES.

Otaki Mail, 3 April 1922, Page 4

PARALYSES AMONG BEES.

OUTBREAK IN TARANAKI. j PROMPT MEASURES TAKEN bV APIAR V DEPA.RTMEN i . A Now Zealand Times reporter on Friday learnt that the apiary division of the Department ol Agricußure liua received information ui a rather more serious outbreak than usual ol paralysis amongst bees in the Taranaki district.

It is not regarded as a serious j malady, but the present outbreak appears to be oi a more virulent type ] than lias occurred elsewhere. Prompt • measures have been taken to deal 1 with it. The report was notified iroui . the largest apiary in Taranalu, and the ovvnci is pursuing a line oi scientific investigation into tiie subjoin. .The season lor honey is just closing, and quite a number oi hives are forward in the grading stores tor ex-1 port. The high standard oi New Zta- 1 land honey is well maintained, i tie development of the industry has pro- . ceeded along business lines for a! number of years, and is receiving the energetic support ol the Government officers, Tne Dominion is - the only country which otficially grades us - honey for export, and its reputation is so high that buyers on the London 1 I market readily buy New Zealand I honey on its grade ticket without looking at the produce. The grade marks, after colour grading, are: Flavour 50, colour 10, condition 15, grain and texture 15, freedom from scum and froth 10; total 100. Special grades must get a minimum of 04 points; A or prime grade 88 to 93J; Bor good grade 80 to 87i inclusive. No honey under 80 points is allowed to be exported. To such an extent lias the industry grown that there are several apiarists running as many as 2000 colonies ol bees, and derive their livelihood entirely from this source.

When the last census was taken, i 1 was found that, owing to Govemmem control and the elimination of disease stocks, the number of colonies had dr creased, but the improvement ii health of the remainder, and the in struction given ou Ihe subject through out the country, has resulted in tin production of honey being alums 1 doubled. A year or so agojhe President. " the" United States said that the direr value of the industry to the State: was 100 million dollars a year, am its indirect yalue, in the direction .) the fertilisation' of blossoms, was .>o‘ million dollars.