THE 
Australian 
e 
txs 
JOURNAL. 
Vol. I. — No. 3.] FEBRUARY, 1886. [Price 6d. 
EDITORIAL NOTICES, &c. 
We are glad to inform our readers that the 
A ustralian Beekeepers’ Journal has so far met 
with very gratifying success. From all parts 
of the colonies applications for our first 
number have been received, and encouraging 
letters from apiarians as well as favourable 
press notices assure us that there is scope and 
need for such a periodical. 
For its continued success we must obtain 
the hearty co-operation of beekeepers and 
beekeepers’ associations by communications, 
information, experiences and apicultural 
news generally, and we have to thank those 
gentlemen who have already assisted in this 
direction, and without whose help we could 
scarcely have made a fair start. 
Reports from different districts of the 
prospects of the honey harvest, the condition 
of apiaries, existence of disease, yield from 
different plants, are wanted, and we again 
invite communications from our subscribers 
and other beekeepers on these subjects. 
It is proposed to shortly commence a series 
of simple directions for beginners in the art of 
apiculture in order to meet numerous requests 
from all parts of the colony for information in 
the A B C of beekeeping. 
We would direct the attention of our sub- 
scribers and all beekeepers to our column for 
Queries and Replies, and express the hope 
that it will be freely and unhesitatingly made 
use of. In the replies, we ask the aid 
of experienced beekeepers throughout the 
colonies. 
PROCEEDINGS of BEEKEEPERS’ 
SOCIETIES. 
Victorian Beekeepers' Club. 
An ordinary meeting of this Club was held 
at the Exchange, Collins-street West, on 
11th January. There were about twenty 
members present, and Mr. Ellery was in the 
chair. 
Mr. C. Clough gave an account of his 
experience in beekeeping in South Australia, 
and described a cheap frame hive made from 
a common kerosene case. He stated that the 
season generally had been a bad one for 
bees, and those who kept their stock in ordi- 
nary boxes had lost largely from starvation. 
Constant feeding had been necessary in many 
localities to keep the bees alive. He 
attributed this to the early heat and dry- 
ness of the season, but expected matters 
would improve as the Eucalyptus began to 
blossom. 
Mr. Clough promised to give a detailed 
description of the cheap hive for insertion in 
the Journal. 
An interesting conversation on the chief 
sources of honey and pollen for the present 
season ensued, and members recounted their 
observations on trees and flowers visited bv 
bees during December and January. Ti e 
African box thorn (“Lyeium Horridum”) and 
prickly box (“ Bursaria Spinosa’’) were 
spoken of as favourite sources, and were 
visited by bees in immense numbers. 
The Secretary, Mr. J. H. Kitchen, having 
been called away to Queensland, several items 
of business were held over till his return. 
