BEEKEEPING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 249, 30 March 1915, Page 2

BEEKEEPING.

(By "Clematis.")

Most people who. keep bees can "enerally find sufficient shelter from garden fipces, shrubs, and small trees' in and around their gardens, etc., but those who contemplate starting where no shelter is available I would recommend the planting of macrocarpa,' or eupressus lawsoniana, the last named in preference, as it grows more closely to the ground. As those plants take a few years to attain the desired height to serve their purpose, the planting of a temporary fence alongside of "Tagastaste," or better known as tree lucerne, would serve. This would give good shelter in'a couple of years, itVcing a very fast growing plant. Another good feature is that it bears an abundance of white blossoms during winter and early spring months, adding a very' welcome addition to ear:y honey producing plants. It can be grown from seed, but the seed should be first soaked in hot water. In planting out young plants, put two feet six inches apart, keeping the ground around the roots free from weeds. It will stand a fair amount cfl cutting.

I would impress upon beekeepers that J the liives should not be kept too clone 1 to shelter hedges or large trees, or where there is a draught or dampness, for I under such conditions bees become v.-ry irritable, and not only that, but the combs in the hives are. very liable to become musty. Bees require the necessary shelter from the cold winds and weather, and require also a site where they can get plenty of sunshine. In myi last notes I made reference to the taking of surplus honey, and the importance of keeping the brood down in the lower box, or brood nest. Th's' is very important at this tim* of the year, as in some colonics where the Queen has been laying in the top super or box, it may liappen that ther! are not sufficient bees to nurse the brood causing it thereby to die. Should there be any surplus honey other than what can be put down in the lower box or brood nest, it should be extracted, and the super removed to the store-house for use again next summer. In doin" so, shake or gently brusli any adherin" bees from the frames in front of the hive. Now see to the replacing of the mats that have done duty during the summer months on s top of the a -piece of clean sacking double thickness making an ideal winter mat. Keep your bees as warm as possible dining the winter, conserve the heat of the "hive, and thus avoid an excessive amount \ of stores being consumed by the bees. The colder the bees are the more food they will require to keep them warm. The ventilation of the hive is controlled by the bees from the bottom boa-d Therefore see if the A shape board is tnafe-su-to- 4'unjs 6f honey is left in the hives so that brood rearing will be kept up well on in the autumn, as the more bees there are to go into winter quarters, better will be the results during the spring and summer months.

Weak and queenless colonies.—Tho-io should be united, the queenless with the weak, by gradually moving not more than a yard or two a day (in the evening) the hives till they are close together. Remove the cover and mat of ; the weak hive, place a piece of newspaper on top of the frame, put the queenless hive, on top, put good warm mats on frames and put on cover. Puff a little smoke from the smoker into the entrance of the hive, and all will be well. By the time tile bees eat through the paper between the two hives, they will mingle together without any signs of fighting. In the course of a few days the bees can all be put down in the lower box, and the top one removed as indicated in another part of these notes.

In my next, I shall probably have something to say on the marleting of honey, old box hives, and foul brood.