BEE-KEEPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1917, Page 6

BEE-KEEPING.

\ PRODUCTION OF HONEY. By "Clematis." Tlie Department of Agriculture has notified the New Zealand Honey Producers' Association, Hawera, that the season's output of honey is estimated at about 1250 lons. The Association is advancing 4Jd nett at the grading ports to its suppliers. EXPORT TIN CANS. The Honey Prodcers' Association has appointed Mr. T. W. Kirk, head of the apiaries department, to be allowed touse well cleaned petrol tins for the export trade. This Mr. Kirk lias agreed to allow, subject to conditions thai the tins must not be rusty, that they must be well cleaned, and that the tops must be taken off, and a new one put on with the patent lever opening. The cost of tinware is almost; prohibitive, and this course seems quite justified under tilt,, present conditions, and will help those exporting. Petrol evaporates, therefore the tins are easily cleaned. Wash 01" with .formalin in the water, and then wash well with boiling water, and if the tins are heated out then on a range ot stove, the cans will be quite free from any taint. At all events great care requires to be taken, to prevent the honey being turned down at the grading depot. BEEKEEPERS' JOURNAL. , Those persons interested are probably unaware that for 3s (id a year a monthly journal is published in Dunedin, and should be taken by those interested in bees and honey. Mr, W. B. Bray, "Wainili," Akaroa, one of Canterbury's well known is the editor, and is also secretary of the National Beekeepers' Association, and will be glad to receive any subscriptions to th" journal. APIARY INSPECTORS. The Government provides for the whole of New Zealand four inspectors, one at Dunedin, Christehurch, Wellington and Auckland. For these persons to do justice in the districts they represent has been found to be very unsatisfactory, and the demands made by the beekeepers for additional inspectors, the Government was unable to grant the request, owing to the demands made upon the Government through the war. To assist the department '24 local in-

spectors have been appointed throughout ; nearly all beekeeping districts. South Taranaki is well represented, but North Taranaki is so far not represented. Mr. 1 T. W. Kirk, of the apiaries division, will ! bo pleased to receive names of persons ' willing to act? THE WINTER SHOW. | I have to thank Mr, Blackball, of I.eppcrton, for a sample of liquid honey. This is a fine sample, color a little dark, well put up and having plenty of body, hydrometer test 1.440, which is very good, being 20 pSints above export standard. Mr. Blackball made his first appearance in competition last year, and one particular exhibit took first at New Plymouth and Hawera. I hope to see him at New Plymouth Winter Show this year. If producers will send me a sample I will be pleased to give tlieiu any information of opinion. Let nic again urge apiarists to prepare entries for the Show in June. To make tlie scctioh popular, a class is being added for the best sample of mead and vinegar made from honey, so that if you have no mead, you will have sections, frame comb honey, liquid or granulated honey, or wax. The prizes 1 range from 3s Cd to 255, including a I five guinea silver cup. | I was lately asked t8 see iwo or three hives of bees which a person bought, no. less than 20 miles from heite. The original owner had put on supers on two liives without any frames. Result: Combs built up upon the frames in the brood nest in the super above. In fact they had started in the roof, but with the heat had fallen on the frames below, and from there continued in the empty super. I cut out the comb with the honey it contained, and after being strained the owner got .'!slbs of good honey. Frames and comb foundation was obtained, and put in the top supers, and the bees are ' now at work drawing out the sheets of foundation comb, and as work proceeds stowing up honey. I Just fancy what unnecessary work. ; was given the bees through want of : knowledge or thoughtfulness of one who professes his liking for bees and honey.