36 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Jan. 2, 1920. 



Temporary Removal of Bees to Better 



Districts* 



W. A. GOOD AC RE, Senior Apiary Inspector. 



Last season generally was a trying one for the apiarist, and in many cases 

 there were serious losses during the spring. In other localities, apiarists 

 have made progress in spite of the abnormal drought, and have been able 

 to harvest a good surplus. The prospects for the coming autumn in some 

 localities are not bright, owing to the drought conditions having had their^ 

 effect on the flora during the budding period. 



It seems to me that it would be wise, especially with the apiarist working 

 in a commercial way, to consider the prospects of his locality and whether it 

 would be to his advantage to remove the majority of his bees for a time to a 

 locality likely to offer a better honey flow. As far as New South Wales is 

 concerned, in bee-keeping the greatest problem that we have to face is the 

 after-effects of an abnormal drought ; and after the past season's experience, 

 apiarists working in a commercial way will be wise if they make a study of 

 localities to which bees could be removed and carried over a desired period. 

 In most cases it will require more energy than expense, and probably the 

 apiarist will be repaid even during the time that the bees are in a new 

 locality. The grazier has to find fresh fields for his stock at times, but the 

 apiarist is much inclined to trust to chance during somewhat similar times, 

 even though a locality offers no prospects for colonies wintering well. 



The coastal districts between Fassifern and Hornsby, and on the Tllawarra 

 line, as well as some of the localities near Sydney, are at the present time a 

 picture with bloom. From personal observation and conversation with 

 apiarists, I find the colonies are j^rogressive, and in the majority of localities 

 there were no losses last season nor during this spring. The coastal districts,, 

 although not recommended for the production of honey, are considered good 

 for breeding purposes generally, and this is especially noticeable during 

 abnormal times inland. For the apiarist who has no prospects in his 

 locality for this autumn, and who desires to minimise the risk of losses, I 

 believe that it would pay to remove bees for a time to localities tliat are 

 favourable for breeding purposes. 



Moreover, it would probably pay apiarists to investigate localities in coastal 

 districts when their own localities offer no autumn prospects. They would 

 probably find there are localities similar to their own that are valued for 

 breeding purposes, in which stocks could be carried over a critical period. The 

 apiarist would rarely be called upon to remove his bees as mentioned ; but 

 for the bee-keeper and for the bee-keeping industry in general a great deal 

 could be done by the investigation of localities that would give relief and 

 offer prospects of building -up and wintering successfully. In many cases 

 it would only mean one day's train journey for the bees, and probably only 

 three visits to the locality by the apiarist. 



