Bee-keepiiir/ Itidustry in Victoria. 



Bees, Hives, and Appliances. 



The race of bees which experience has proved the most suitable for 

 Victoria is the Italian, of the leather-coloured variety. Italians and 

 their crosses are kept by all the larger honey producers. In some dis- 

 tricts black bees of the European species in a wild state are numerous, 

 and many of th« present bee-keepers started with this kind of stock, 

 cutting their nests out of trees or securing flying swarms 



The hives, frames, honey extractors, and appliances generally 

 throughout the State are of American pattern, but chiefly of Australian 

 manufacture. The hive in general use is the Langstroth, either eight or 

 ten frame capacity, but there is also a small number of large apiarists 

 who use a modified form of Heddon hive. Home-made hives, made out 

 of kerosene or petrol cases, are still largely used, but where it is in- 

 tended to move apiaries to catch the alternating honey flows they are 



Bees in the Orchard. 



being discarded in favour of factory-made hives. There are several 

 factories for the manufacture of bee-keepers' supplies and agencies of 

 American manufacturers, and no difficulty is therefore experienced in 

 getting everything required. 



A bee-journal, The Australa si-cm Bee-\keeper, published monthly, 

 circulates throughout Australia. There are several bee-keepers associa- 

 tions in the States, the principal one of which is The Victorian Apiarists' 

 Association. One of its rules regulates the distances of members' apiaries 

 from one another, while another one guarantees the purity of the 

 products. 



How TO Commence Bee-keeping. 



Any bee-keeper who is a master of the craft in some other part of 

 the world would know how to adapt his method and practice to the 



