AMONG THE BEES.
APIARY NOTES FOR OCTOBER.
(By D. S.-Robinson, Apiary Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Palaierstou North).
The month of October is a very important one for the beekeepers, and it is essential that from now on plenty of stores be allowed the bees, in order l-hat the queen may be encouraged to lay a large number of eggs, thereby having a good field force of bees to gather the early flow of nectar. This helps to stimulate the hive for increased activities for the main honey flow. Hives should be examined, all debris and foreign matter removed from the bottom boards <and weeds cleared from the outside of hives, especially from the entrances. The mat ought to be carefully looked at, and, if damp, replaced with a dry one. The roof too, should be examined to see if it is water-tight.
All spare material must now be made up ready for early swarming. Wax that has not been converted into foundation comb should be sent off 'without delay, as some little time is bound to elapse before it is returned from the foundation makers. In sending wax •away to be converted into comb foundation, do not forget to scratch your name on. each block, and advise the maker of the dispatch of the wax. Remember at this time of. the year the foundation-makers are receiving many parcels of wax, both large and small.. These little attentions help for prompts return of the comb foundation. FEEDING BEES.
Where stores are short . artificial feeding must be continued, as mentioned in last month's notes. DISEASE.
Look carefully through every brood frame for traces of foul brood, and, if any is found, the Apiary Instructor for your district should be advised. A copy of a Bulletin oh the Treatment of Foul Brood will then be dispatched to the beekeeper, and any help or advice needed' will be given. QUEEN RIGHT.
When examining combs for foul brood, notice should be taken to see thMt there are eggs and brood also present.. Any hive that has not got young brood at this time of the year muse have either become queenle'ss or may have an old and. failing queen. If no spare queens are on hand, hives in such a state should be united with queen-right hives; The most" simple method of accomplishing this is by removing the roof or mat. of a queenright, driving the bees down to a single super if they are occupying more than one just now, then spreading two sheets of newspaper over the top of the super on which is.placed the super with the queenless bees. The mat and roof are next put on in the usual way. Care should be taken to see that there are nc cracks in the supers through which the bees could get out, and tha only way 'out would be for them to gnaw through the paper, which they will do in a matter of a few days. •In the warmer districts, the entrances of the hives which should have been contracted for the winter should now be enlarged. . In hives very strong in bees look out for early swarming. This can be avoided to a large extent by giving the queen plenty of room, and at the same time by cutting out al.< queen cells every ten days or so.
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Shannon News, 8 October 1929, Page 1
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558AMONG THE BEES. Shannon News, 8 October 1929, Page 1
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