BEEKEEPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1918, Page 6

BEEKEEPING.

BEEKEEPERS' FIELD DAY. The North Taranaki Beekeepers' Association will have a field day on Friday next (Good Friday) at "Tainui." Mr. F. W. Sandford has kindly placed his apiary and appliances at the Association's disposal for the day. Being close to the Vorscltown entrance of Pukekura Park all interested in beekeeping are invited to be present. Mr. F. A. Jacobsen, the Government Apiary Inspector and honey grader, will be present, and be able to give those present valuable information. If the weather is suitable the general work of the modern apiary will be demonstrated. Mr. Smith, curator of Pukekura Park, is expected to be present, and his records of beekeeping in Canterbury should be interesting, as beekeeping in Taranaki is very different from that in Canterbury. "Tainui'' utilizes his by-products to advantage and produces a fine beverage in honey mead, and also a fine white preserving vinegar. I have recently received another inquiry re keeping bees as follows:—"1 want to begin beekeeping, but do not know whence or where to begin. Will you call on me the first time you are at ." I have written this correspondent and await particulars re further advice. PREPARING FOR WINTER. The season for surplus honey is now practically closed, and those who have not taken or extracted the surplus honey should do so at once or at the first opportunity, and prepare the bees for their winter quarters. In doing so ascertain that the lower box or brood nest have at least 30 to 401bs of sealed honey, as with that amount in store, and with what little will be gathered, brood_ rearing will be kept up well on in the autumn and up to winter, as the more bees there are to go into winter quarters, the better will be the results during the spring and early summer months. Don't extract now finally before looking at brood nest. I was looking at some hives the last few days and the brood nest was three parts full of bro-\ and with practically no honey, although the top supers \iad amply supply of sealed honey. In sflch case honey must be left in the supers to make up the desired supply, which the bees will later remove to the bottom box or brood nest for winter use, or the frames with the honey must be nut below as soon as the brood is hatched. The removal of supers varied according to the condition of the bees, »s In some strong colors the queen will have been laying in the supers, and there will be more brood than can be put into the bottom box. In this case see that brood is them all in the super above the brood nest, and any other supers without brood or honey removed, so as to conserve the heat of tho hive. Bees and honey than can all be put down in bottom box should have the super removed, and two good mats of clear sacking put on the frames in place of the old ones doing duty during the season. BEESWAX. Save all capping?, scraps of broken combs, and old brood combs for rending into wax, which is going to be scarce and commands from Is Od to 2s a lb according to quality. HONEY PRICE&. Honey of good flavor, body and good amber color, fine grain, is worth 8d to Od per lb per 21b tins, sections 7d to Bd, according to quality.