296 AUSTRALASIAN 



The time of commencement and duration of the autumn crop 

 entirely depends upon the rains ; if these should be late it will 

 of course affect the crop in the same manner, and also shorten 

 the honey season. 



The autumn gathering is very valuable ; it enables the bees 

 to fill up empty brood combs with honey, thus putting the 

 colony in good condition for wintering, and renders feeding 

 unnecessary, a very important matter, especially to beginners. 



In this district it is seldom that any surplus honey can be 

 obtained from the autumn crop ; but I have no doubt in more 

 favourable situations a considerable amount might sometimes 

 be taken. 



FLIGHT OF BEES. 



It is generally understood that the usual range of a worker 

 bee's flight is from 1J to 2 miles in all directions from the 

 apiary, although bees are known to go much further when 

 pasturage is scarce within that distance. 



Of course the greater the flight the less honey is stored ; so 

 that the apiarist will understand how necessary it is, where 

 practicable, to have good and abundant pasturage near the 

 apiary. It is Mr. Langstroth's opinion that " although bees 

 will fly in search of food over three miles still if it is not within 

 a circle of two in every direction from the apiary they will be 

 able to store but little surplus honey." 



OVER-STOCKING. 



On the question of over-stocking many different opinions 

 exist, some thinking it almost impossible to over-stock a good 

 district, while others, again, believe it may be done. The for- 

 mer argue in support of their opinion that each day's secretion 

 of honey in the flowers will, if not gathered the same day, dry 

 up or be wasted before evening. This being so it would take 

 an enormous number of bees to visit all the honey-producing 

 flowers every day, and until this is done, there can be no fear 

 of the district being over-stocked. This appears to me to be a 

 very reasonable way of looking at the matter. 



My own idea is, that in most districts of New Zealand, and 

 the settled districts of Australia, a very large number of colo- 

 nies might be profitably supported in every square mile, and 

 the possibility of such districts ever being over-stocked is very 

 remote. 



