2i6 Journal of Agriculture . Victoria. [lo Mar.,. 1911^ 



TarriN'G. — A.S.O. asks for particulars as to correct mixing, and condition of" 

 tar, to make a suitable paint for yards, so as to avoid melting, sticking, or flaking. 

 He also asks for quantities of tar and pitch for making a mixture that will not melt 

 with heat. 



Aiiswer. — The tar should be brought to the boil and applied hot. The mate- 

 rial which is to be coatetl should also be as hot as possible and perfectly dry; 

 therefore a hot day should be chosen for the work. Two pounds weight of pitch 

 to ten gallons of tar makes a good mixture. 



Cleansing Underground Tank. — W.J.E. states that last season the water in 

 his cement underground tank became foiil — the cow would hardly drink it. It is^- 

 covered loosely with boards. 



Answer. — Waters collected and stored in underground tanks, more especially 

 those conducted from roofs, are very liable to become foul through decomposition- 

 of organic matter which is washed into the tank by the water. The tank should 

 therefore be thoroughly cleansed periodically by washing, preferably with lime water. 

 If possible, the tank should be left uncovered. 



Restoring Fertility to Soil. — V.W. writes : — "Some two years ago flood 

 waters from the surroundings of the local cyanide and metallurgical works went 

 over some of the flats, and now the crops will not grow on the portions affected. 

 Can you state a method of restoring fertility?" 



Answer.- — If deleterious matter had been deposited on the land from the 

 source mentioned, it would, by this time, have leached out by the action of raia 

 and drainage. An analysis of the soil would be necessary to reveal the cause of 

 the trouble. A leaflet stating how samples of soil should be gathered for chemical 

 analysis may be obtained on application to the Secretary for Agriculture, Mel- 

 bourne. 



I'rea'ention of Swarming. — D.E. asks how to prevent bees from swarming. 

 He is keeping the queen in the top super with the excluder so as to j^revent her fiom:- 

 coming down. 



Ansiver. — Confining the queen bee to a.i upper storey lo jjrevent swarming 

 has some serious drawbacks. Even when full sheets of foundation have been used in^ 

 the frames, there are always some drone cells on brood combs ; and, when an ex- 

 cluder is inserted below the brood, the drones which are nearest cannot get out of 

 the hive. They get stuck in the excluder, die there, and block the passage way for 

 the workers. If an opening is made, so that they can fly from the upper storev, the 

 c[ueen can also escape if inclined to swarm. Also, worker bees will strip most of 

 the pollen off their legs when getting through the excluder. Bees will not, as a- 

 rule, store honey below brood ; and, when the brood in the lower chamber has 

 hatched out after the queen is put in the super, 'the lower combs will be neglected. 



Rapid Granulation of Honey. — D.E. states that he is having difiiculty with- 

 the honey. As soon as it is robbed it becomes frozen. 



Answer. — The rapid granidation of the honey is due to its composition. Of 

 the two principal comj)onents of honey, dextrose and levulose, the former when 

 predominating causes the candying or granulation. Heating the honey to i6o- 

 degrees (Fahr.), by standing the tins in water over a fire, will reliquify it. There 

 should be a space of at least half-an-inch between the bottom of the honey tin and' 

 the vessel containing the water; on no account should 160 degrees be exceeded, 

 otherwise the honey will be spoilt. 



Life of Queen Bee. — D.E. inquires as to life of (|ueen bee. 



Ansiver. — The life of a queen Isee is from Lwo to three years. An old queem 

 is replaced with a young one by the workers when she begins to fail ; that is, when 

 the eggs contained in her ovaries are nearly all laid. When bees are in a state of 

 Nature the laving of the queen is restricted to the combs built by the workers, and 

 she may therefore last four years. 



Loss of Bees. — I.J.B states that several of his hives which have not been 

 robbed for twelve months are quite empty and all of the bees have perished. 



.AnsTver. — Without fuller information it is not possible to say what caused' 

 the loss of the bees. They may have succumbed to disease, or lost their queen, 

 swarmed and absconded, or' died of starvation. Which of these wms the cause could' 

 onl)' be determined by an inspection of the hives. 



Text-Books on Apiculture. — I.J.B. asks for the names of text-books en- 

 apiculture. 



Answer. — The best standard work on bees is Roofs .A. B.C. of Bee Culture. 

 Price (including postage), 7s. There is a smaller book which may answer your re- 

 quirements : The Anstrala.nan Bee Manual, bv J. Hopkins. Price (with postage). 

 2S. 8d. Both books are obtainable at Messrs. W. J. ..l' F. Barnes, Albert-street, East 

 Melbourne, and also from leading booksellers. 



