THE 
Hustralwn ^tmcrptrs 
JOURNAL. 
VOL. I. — Non. 11 AND 12.] 
FEBRUARY, 1887. 
[Prick t;i>. 
EDITORIAL. 
Tuk pr< sent double number Completes the first 
year of the Australian lleekrejiers' Journal. 
Our readers have already learned that the 
subscription list for the year has not come up 
to our exp< elation*, and without a very con- 
siderable increase, is not sufficient to warraut 
our carrying on the Journal (at hast as a 
monthly publication,] for the present year. : 
We have received numerous letters lamenting 
the prospect of the discontinuance, testifying 
to its value and interest to beekeepers generally, 
and in some cases sending the names of new 
subscribers. It will be a matter of regret to 
tts if, for want of sufficient support, we arc 
compelled to stop issue, and we are now simply 
waiting to see what subscription list we can 
rely upon before entering upon Volume 2. 
Hkk News or the Season. 
In most districts in this part of Australia, the 
first honey-flow slackens about Christmas, and 
Wes get hard pushed for fodder until the 
Kucalrpts and other autumn flowering trees 
and plants Wgin to oprn out towards the end 
of Januury or Wginning of February. At such 
a time beekeepers have to sec to their stocks 
and feed freely if any arc short of honey. 
Late swarms are seldom sufficiently advanced 
to do without some help, and strong stocks, 
whether they have honey or not, will make 
latge efforts to get •* honestly if they can,” 
but get it they will, and therefore robbing is 
to W carefully guarded against, or weak stocks 
w hich have honey or get fed are liable to raids 
from their stronger neighbours. It it not 
easy to cure robbing when once commenced at 
this season, and stocks tobWd will surely bo 
ruined if it is not stopped. Finding out the 
robbing hive and changing its place with the 
lobWd one, will often cure the difficulty ; but 
this is not always practicable, nor is it always 
successful. Removing the robbed hives a full 
mile away until the honey is flowing again is 
probably the best cure. Prevention, however, 
is the proper course. Where robbing occurs, 
it is nearly always caused by carelessness, 
when honey is scarce. Opening hives on 
bright days, unless early in the morning or 
late in the evening, diffuses the odour of honey, 
and sets the robbers on the alert, when they try 
the strength and courage of the hives opened, 
and if once a few bees can carry off a load or 
twoof honey they will fight till half the bees are 
dead to get the rest. Outside feeding, leaving 
: honey or comb about, spilling honey, or feed- 
ing with honey, even when it is done inside 
| the hive, often starts robbing. It is best, 
therefore, when littlo or no honey is coming 
! in, to open hives, but seldom, and then in the 
early cool morning or latcevening;and neverto 
feed with honey, but simple sugar syrup, 
Extracting should be done earlier or put off 
later, and removing section boxes should be 
done either early or late in the day, and the 
sections themselves placed in a room inacces- 
sible to the bees. Italians and hybrids are apt 
to rob weak black bees, but we have found 
Italians and first crosses, however weak, always 
repel the first attempts of thieving bees. A 
i|ucenless hive is almost sure to be attacked if 
robbing commences. 
News from the country districts show the 
present to have been a variable season accord- 
ing to locality. Hees having access to meadow 
and clover pasturages appear to have stored 
well, and in some places an extensive early 
