Pastures Past: Beekeeping - early days and unique transport solutions

Bees and their care made headlines in former times. Photo / David Haxton

Kem Ormond takes a look at the world of farming back in the day.

Honey bees were thought to have been introduced to New Zealand in 1839 by Mary Bumby.

The sister of a Methodist missionary, Bumby brought two hives ashore when she landed at Mangungu Mission Station in Hokianga.

Bees and their care have made the news since then, including these articles from various Kiwi publications, discussing how to regulate their importation and perhaps most importantly, how to safely transport them.

In 1934, Mr E. E. Abram from New South Wales seemed to have come across a rather cool way to move his bees.

Transfer of bees

Patea Mail, October 23, 1880

The best time to transfer is early in the season, when there is but little honey in the hives, though it may be done at any time if sufficient caution is used; still it should never be done except on warm days, when the bees are actively engaged in storing.

After the bees are busy at work, approach the old hive, blow a little smoke into the entrance to quiet the bees, then carry the hive off a few feet, and turn it bottom up.

Place a box over the hive — it will make no difference whether it fit close or not, if the bees are so smoked as to be thoroughly alarmed — and with a stick rap on the lower hive for twenty minutes.

The bees will find the honey and go with the queen into the upper hive and cluster.

If towards the last we carefully set the box off once or twice, and vigorously shake the hive, and then replace the box, we will hasten the emigration of the bees and make it more complete.

A few young bees will still remain in the old hive, but these will do no harm.

Now put the box on the old stand, leaving the edge raised so that the bees which were out may enter, and so that all bees can get air.

Now knock the old box apart, cut the combs from the sides, and get them out of the old hive with just as little damage as possible.

Of course in transferring from one frame to another, the matter is much simplified.

In this case, after thoroughly smoking the bees, we have when to lift the frames, and shake or brush the bees into the new hive.

Now, cut the comb in the best form to accommodate the new frames, and fasten as already suggested.

After the combs are all transferred, shake all remaining bees in front of the new hive, which has already been placed on the stand previously occupied by the old hive.

Importation of bees

Minister’s consent needed.

New Zealand Herald, June 9, 1924

Regulations relating to the importation of bees or appliances have been gazetted.

The introduction of bees is prohibited, save with the precedent consent of the Minister of Agriculture, application which must state the name and address of the breeder and the location of the apiary from which the bees are to be obtained.

No appliance that has been used in connection with bees may be imported, except containers for bees imported under a permit.

These regulations supersede those gazetted in October, 1920, in which restrictions were imposed on the importation of honey as well as of bees and appliances.

Honey is not mentioned in the new regulations.

Kept cool

Novel method of transporting bees

Bay of Plenty Times, February 8, 1934

A novel method of transporting hives of bees, by packing them in ice in a railway truck, has been employed with success By Mr E. E. Abram, a prominent New South Wales apiarist.

The journey was from Sandy Hollow siding (near Merriwa) to a district on the far South Coast furnishing ample honey flora, which is trees yielding adequate nectar.

The distance, 400 miles, was completed in 24 hours.

The number of hives moved was 250, and on the basis of an average weight of 10lb of bees to the hive and 4500 bees to the pound, 11¼ million were transported.

There had practically been a complete failure of blossom during the season, and so scarce did nectar become in the environment surrounding Mr Abram’s apiary, that ultimately he had to decide whether to make artificial provision for the bees — a costly undertaking with so many hives — or risk loss during transportation.

Mr E. E. Abram's cool beehive transport idea made the Bay of Plenty Times in 1934. Image / Papers Past

Deaths through overheating in transit are very heavy during the summer months, and in some cases whole consignments have been killed.

Mr Abram hit upon the original scheme of dispatching the bees in a chamber of ice.

He, therefore, systematically arranged 225 hives, containing Italian and Carniolan bees, in a bogie louvre van.

A ton of ice in blocks, which were packed in sawdust in bags, was then carefully adjusted round the hives.

Good ventilation was allowed, and, due to the cooling influence of the ice and draught, the bees landed somewhat subdued but in good condition at their destination.

Mr Abram was very satisfied with the experiment, and considers the method very sound for moving large quantities of bees during food shortage.

To have provided artificial food for his bees would probably have cost him over £20 a week.

- Source: Papers Past