THE honey harvest was in short supply this year, members of the Okehampton branch of the Devon Beekeeping Association reported at their meeting. Speaking at Shelley Methodist Hall in South Zeal, chairman Ray King gave a brief overview of the beekeeping year, which had started well with a warm April, but deteriorated with wet weather through most of June and July, the peak foraging time for bees. By the time conditions brightened in August the main nectar flow had ended and very few branch members could report any substantial honey harvest. Mr King congratulated eight members who this year successfully obtained their basic beekeeping certificates. Topics raised included swarm control and associated issues of spring feeding and the benefits of young and productive queen bees, beehive ventilation and the use of open mesh floors, protection against wax moth and the optimum site for a new apiary. Ted Cheeseman, branch librarian, reminded everyone that the branch library contained a number of books on beekeeping and these were available for loan to members at monthly meetings. The next meeting will be the annual meeting at Shelley, starting at 7.30pm on November 13. This will be combined with a pre-Christmas ?Bring and Share? supper.
