CHARACTERISTIC SITES FOR AN APIARY. 



171 



<sula there is always a sufficiency of natural herbage to supply 

 green-stuff to keep fowls healthy. Poultry in no way interfere with 

 bees, nor bees with poultry. I have heard of a case where a hen 

 developed a taste for them. In such a case she could be converted 

 into a dinner. I one time had a hen that was an excellent drone- 

 trap. When the drones were on the wing she would stand-by 

 and obtain many a good meal, but when only workers were out the 

 hen was never present. With such a site converted into a bee- 

 farm, with two or three cowa running in the bush for the supply 

 of milk and butter, poultry for eggs and fresh meat, one or two 

 pigs, to fatten with the overplus milk and the refuse from the 

 garden and pumpkin patches, to supply the larder with hams and 

 bacon, an industrious man could do well. The garden could 

 supply a family with health-giving vegetables, and, being in close 

 proximity to the creek, irrigation could be applied to it that would 

 ensure a regular supply of them. The fruit-trees could be so 

 planted that they would receive the benefit of the artificial water- 

 ing. There would be sufficient surplus fruit to preserve for winter 

 use, either by bottling or jam -making, that would last from fruit 

 season to fruit season. Honey is equal to sugar as a preservative 

 for fruit. A bee-farm with the adjuncts named, with Sydney as 

 a market for the tons of honey that are to be obtained from our 

 native honey-producing trees, and a local township where any 

 overplus of butter, eggs, &c, could be disposed of for ready cash — 

 what more need a family require? Moses' incentive to his flock 

 was that he was leading thorn to "a land flowing with milk and 

 honey." 



There are hundreds of such sites in the districts named await- 

 ing occupiers. There are also numberless individuals looking out 

 to establish a place for a home. A young couple taking possession 

 of one of these sites, starting as above in a small way, so that the 

 adjuncts could be increased or added as requirements occurred, 

 could easily make a comfortable and prosperous home. 



Many a settler has already a similar site, occupied only by a 

 few straggling sheep or cattle that are returning at most a pre- 

 carious living to their owner. It may not be as perfect as the 

 illustration referred to ; but, if the hillsides are fairly well clothed 

 with indigenous timber, there is no reason why an acre or so could 

 not be fenced off that would be beneficial, as stated. There is no 

 great outlay needed. One member of the family having ordinary 

 energy and attention could be told off as superintendent. Such an 

 addition would not take up the whole of anyone's time, and, at 



