BEEKEEPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1918, Page 6

BEEKEEPING.

VISIT OF APIARY INSTRUCTOR. (By "Clematis.") The (,'oveni'iient a|>iary iiwtructor v. ill l)e at the next Beekeepers' Association meeting. Anyone interested is advised to attend, as lie will be abb to give valuable information on beekeeping ami bee-work. WORK OF THE APIARY. Bees in good condition sliould now iiave a fair amount of brood in the hives, To find out, note the condition of each live or colony. With a good young queen 1 fair amount of sealed and emerging brood should now be found larvae in various stages, down to the minute eggs. If these are to be found, one can be satisfied that the colony has a fair queen at its head; but if these are not to be found, mark the hive as doubtful, and examine again in from ten to fifteen days, and then, if tlie Tesult lias not favorably improved as regards brood and cgg3, you can put the colony down as queenless. WARMTH AND FOOD. Warmth and the supply of food must be keenly watched, as both are essential to keep the hive or colony of bees strong, or growing in strength. I have found that should hives have a fair amount of stores, a little syrup on candy fed to them twice a week stimulates brood rearing, and remember, the more bees reared in the early season (to fill tlie place of those that have done winter duty, which, from now on, will be dying off) the stronger will be the force of bees to commence the coming season's work. Result—the more bees, the more honey. A weak colony does little good in honey production. For warmth, see that the bees are in the brood nest or bottom box, with two or three good mats over the frame. If feeding with syrup, put on a super or box, and put in a division boird feeder, and a few empty comb frames to support a mat over the top. Cut a hole in mat over feeder to take funnel, and yon can feed with syrup towards evening without disturbing a bee. In putting on super box to hold the feeder, don't forget to turn back the corner of the mats over the brood nest frames to let the bees up to the syrup in the super holding the feeder. % MATERIAL FOR COMING SEASON. It is well to make up one's mind as to what probable increases will be made during the coming season, and order material so as to make sure of having stocks when wanted. Boxes, frames, wire, etc., are likely to be scarce. The North Taranaki Beekeepers' Association is alive to the situation, and will endeavor to assist its members in the supply of bee material. Dunedin and Auckland are the only sources of supply, and, in face of the limited supply, producers should avail themselves of the advantages of the Beekeepers' Association, not only in regard to supplies of material, but the disposal of their production of honey and beeswax. CANDY FOR BEE-FEEDING Put into an enamel preserving pan lOlbs of cane sugar No. 1 or IA, and a teaopoonful of cream of tartar, and upon this pour 1J pints of cold water, put the pan upon a brisk fire, and stir occasionally to prevent burning. When the sugar commences to froth up, watch that it does not froth over the sides of the pan. If there is any likelihood of it doing so, remove it from the fire for a few seconds, and then replace it. Presently it will commence to boil violently with a crackling sort of noise, but will cease to froth up. Keep it thus boiling for exactly three minutes, and then remove it from the fire. Now procure a bath of sufficient size to accommodate the preserving pan within it. Into this put sufficient cold water, so that when the pan with its boiling contents is put into tlie water the latter will not overflow into the sugar. Having put the can into tlie cold water, leave it thus while you place some pieces of clean white paper on sonie plates or dishes upon which to run tlie candy into cakes. Return to the hot sugar, and with a spoon quickly stir it. Continue to do this without intermission until it commences to change color from transparent to cloudiness, which gradually increases until the whole mass assumes the appearance of very thick gruel. Then pour it into the plates. It will be sufficiently cool to give to the bees in about half an hour. If carefully made, it will be found to be a very Jine grained mass of sugar, upon which tlie bees will feed ravenously. A piece placed in the mouth should dissolve almost instantly. To feed to bees, lift mat and put candy on top or between the frames; replace mat and the bees will do the rest. SYRUP FEEDING AND DIVISION BOARD FEEDER. To each pound of sugar add half a pint of water; stir well and bring to boil. When colo or lukewarm it is ready to be fed to the bees. Feed in above feeder and always in the evening.