12 MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTEALASIA 



PASTURE LEGISLATION. 



Victoria is tiie only State that has any legislation 

 dealing with bee pasture. The Forest Department 

 administers the Act dealing with licenses and bee-ranges. 

 A Bee-Farm Site is an area (up to ten acres) on which 

 to place the bees. A Bee-Eange is an area of a mile 

 radius (with the bee-farm as the centre) to be used as 

 a foraging ground. The bee-farmer rents the tops of the 

 trees only; he has no right over the grass or land. (A 

 note of enquiry should be addressed to the Conservator 

 of Forests, Melbourne, who will be pleased to furnish all 

 necessary information). 



Having made a selection of an area in, or adjoining 

 a forest, it is necessary to clear and fence a site. This 

 is a most important act. Take care that it is well above 

 flood level. One of the best situations is a hill side, not 

 too steep, with preferably an eastern slope so as to get 

 full benefit of the morning sun. Nothing like the early 

 solar rays for bees, and for that matter, humans too. 

 If it is possible to secure a location well protected from 

 wind, and fairly free from risk of bush fires, an eastern 

 situation would do very well. Undoubtedly each district 

 possesses peculiarities that should receive careful 

 attention. 



In Australasia, it is very advisable, owing to the 

 dryness of certain seasons, to exercise some forethought 

 on the subject of bush fires, before the plant is in working 

 order. On account of this risk, do not locate on the south 

 or eastern side of a forest subject to fires. Prevention 

 is better than cure. However, if a strong north wind 

 should blow during a big forest blaze, it is impossible 

 to stay its progress. The writer in 1913 experienced 

 the loss of entire apiaries of hundreds of hives, together 

 with honey-tanks, honey-house, extractors, etc., through 

 a fire sweeping the slopes of the Australian Alps. On 

 this occasion the grass was carefully burnt off a few days 

 before, but miles of forest on fire produce terrific heat. 

 The hives — facing east — were continually swept by 

 flames beaten down from the timber, until the north and 



