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secure that crop at a given date; but our trees may blossom any 
time from October till June, and are altogether irregular and 
subject to conditions which do not appear on the surface. 
This extended time of honey supply is a decided gain, and, 
with good management, a large crop may be gathered. With a 
large surrounding forest of honey-producing trees, keeping a 
continuous bloom for months, the apiarist is placed in a much 
more reliable situation than in the case of the one who knows his 
crop is limited to a few days, with all the possibility of broken 
and unfavorable weather. 
In choosing a locality for an apiary, it is well to obtain one 
that possesses a good variety of timber. This insures a longer 
and more continuous supply than a position which has but little 
variety. 
The quality of the honey from the different species is very 
various, but of that I will speak later on. 
The box tribe, which is so extensively scattered throughout 
the colony, stands at the head of our forest trees as a source of 
supply. The red, yellow, grey, and white box trees all bear 
abundant crops of excellent honey. The redgum, which grows on 
water-courses, gives a heavy crop, usually every other season, but 
at times breaking away from that rule. The various species 
usually denominated whitegum are all likewise good producers. 
The messmate, black butt, silver top, mountain ash, stringybark, 
and a host of others, known by common bush names, supply 
sources of honey—some good, some inferior. 
It will be clearly seen that in this colony at least we have 
many thousands of miles of honey-producing forest, giving a long- 
continued flow of honey, such as is not enjoyed by other climates 
which are not so mild or temperate as ours. In addition to the 
large forest trees, there are, of course, a host of smaller growth— 
banksias, hakea, acacias, &c., and thousands of flowering shrubs 
herbs, and grasses, many of which yield honey abundantly. 
Although much of our forest timber has been ruthlessly wasted, 
there remains many thousands of square miles yet untouched, or 
comparatively so. There is, therefore, abundant room for 
development in this direction. 
There is no necessity in this colony, as in colder climates, to 
make special preparations for long months of winter. In fact, in 
most parts the bees are able to fly and gather sustenance during 
our so-called winter months. In most parts of the States, except 
in Southern California, it is necessary to pack away all hives 
of bees in cellars, that they may maintain an even temperature 
of about 40° Fahr. There they remain for five months, due 
regard being given to their food supply; yet, notwithstanding 
these precautions, very many are annually lost. This is a matter 
which gives us no concern here, entails no labour, or causes any loss. 
826, G 
