From page 15 bees to a sudden cold snap before they can reseal the draughty gaps . There is the fellow who loves and has a passion for his bees . He places them in a well sheltered corner of his plot , provides shade from the hot sun , and covers them with a blanket for the cold winter nights . One day the bees , unaware of the cold south wind , fly out and are struck down in the cold , never to return to their hive . The killing of swarms is causing the largest loss of swarms . As urban areas develop , more households experience the presence of swarming bees entering their premises and report their problems to their local councils . Unconcerned and unaware of the bee crisis , the councils just destroy the swarms . One council reported that they kill up to 80 swarms a month during the three months of the swarming seasons . It is a costly undertaking for beekeepers to remove and save these swarms so the councils resort to the quick fix method and just kill . There is the call out , “ Get the bee man , he will sort them out , chop , chop .” He arrives and in 20 minutes he poisons the entire swarm at a handsome fee ,... after all it ' s his living . Not to lose out , where the
BEEKEEPING
possible loss of our bees is at crisis level , the Dept of Agriculture , Forestry & Fisheries , abiding by the laws , enforces the removal of the blue gum trees so vital for the importance for the survival of our bee colonies throughout our land , on which the bee industry and the fruit , nut and seed producers so anxiously depend upon . However all is not doom and gloom , thanks to those many folk who love and cherish the presence of bees on their premises and who welcome and often request the beekeeper to place hives on their farms and plots . Article by Peter Clark , Chairman Eastern Highveld beekeepers ' Association at 011 362-2904 and information systems , Mike Alter at 011 965- 6040
Eucalyptus trees , aka bluegums ... great bee forage
17 www . sasmallholder . co . za