BEE-KEEPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1917, Page 6

BEE-KEEPING.

By "Clematis." The New Plymouth and ITawera shows are over, and beekeepers viewing the exhibits at the two shows know the perfections, faults, and ways and means of improving exhibits for the WIS shows. The two shows had a very fine display of honey, etc., hut at llaAvera I think the judge would have toeen justified, in disqualifying an exhibit of comb honey which I consider should never have been on a show table, ll know that had such an entry been put on the table at New Plymouth the judge would have disqualified it. This is tjie .ofi'lv way to bring exhibitors up to the mark.

HYHRiOMETER 'j.'ESTS. " Some of the honey at the New Plymouth show ranged in test from 1.440 to 1.450. I have always advocated that the climate of ,Taranaki being so moist, honey that has a test of 1.420 without being kept in perfectly airtight vessels is liable to ferment, and should :be consumed during the year of production. The 1.4-20 test is' the lowest Government sbmdard, 'but in localities where the clfhiatc is drier than Taranaki it is considered quite safe. I havo seen honey here at that standard ferment.

ATTENTION TO HIVES Hives of he.es that have heen looked after and have a good cluster of frees, and a fair amount of stores, if headed by a good young queen will commence' laying towards, the end of this month. The bees should he down in the lower box or hrood nest, and care should be taken to sec that they have sufficient stores, if not, feed with a syrup of two parts sugar and one part water. As soon as fcrood-rearing starts, more stores are consumed by the bees, and care must be taken to see that the supply of stores in the hive is kept up. This will keep the queen laying and hives must be kept warm with two or three warm mats over the frames to conservo the heat, and a hivo shomil be looked after. It will surprise you to see the bees shell out the brood in the spring. Contrive to get a good force of bees in the early spring and if all go well with weather conditions, such hives will eventually give good returns.