todays news

[Neils]

And just to try and get a picture or two



For a pic taken on the phone I'm actually quite pleased with this one, an hour or so after moving the hive a couple of feet and finally getting it onto a higher stand as I think they get a bit damp on the pallet where they are.

[prakel]

@Neils; a very uniform looking gang of bees.

[Finno]

I believe it to be a cas chrom, (our) gaelic word for a foot plough, narrower than a spade.

Still off topic - known as a "loy" in Ireland from gaelic "láighe". Chrom element in Scottish gaelic name would describe the handle - crom = twisted or bent. Go here to see one in use http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za3HAjcLpHU

Finno

[drumgerry]

At last managed to properly get a look at my colonies this afternoon. Bit of a mixed bag really. 9 colonies ranging from little to no brood to 4 frames of brood. Pollen sources available round here practically non-existent yet which might explain the very limited brood rearing. You get the feeling things will kick off big time once Spring properly starts. On a plus note saw a single willow catkin laden with yellow pollen this afternoon.

[wee willy]

More vandalism!
Hopefully they got their just desserts!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...0-insects.html
WW


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[Mellifera Crofter]

Still off topic - known as a "loy" in Ireland from gaelic "láighe". Chrom element in Scottish gaelic name would describe the handle - crom = twisted or bent. Go here to see one in use http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za3HAjcLpHU

Finno

Do you know if anybody still makes, and sells, loy spades, Finno?
Kitta

[Dark Bee]

Still off topic - known as a "loy" in Ireland from gaelic "láighe". Chrom element in Scottish gaelic name would describe the handle - crom = twisted or bent. Go here to see one in use http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za3HAjcLpHU

Finno

Would it be accurate to say that use of the loy was confined to the western part of Shamrockshire and elsewhere the spade was used? I never even heard of of one until I read Synges "Playboy of the Western World". Thanks for the link, it was an interesting video to watch.

[Finno]

ion.ie/contact/contact.html[/URL]

Do you know if anybody still makes, and sells, loy spades, Finno?
Kitta

You might like to contact some of these people, they probably could advise.....http://www.loyassociation.ie/contact/contact.html

Finno

[Finno]

Would it be accurate to say that use of the loy was confined to the western part of Shamrockshire and elsewhere the spade was used? I never even heard of of one until I read Synges "Playboy of the Western World". Thanks for the link, it was an interesting video to watch.

Was especially used on hilly land and on heavy soils where horse drawn plough could not be used. Heavy drop forged spade of similar shape was used until very recent times - the back of the implement provides powerful leverage. A marvelous implement if one if breaking new ground for cultivation on ridges or "lazy beds" in the garden. Ridges are very suitable method of cultivation on heavy wet soils. Modern spades for use in suburban flower beds are absolutely useless. Hard work - probably the guy who first called them "lazy beds" sat on horseback and never turned a sod in his life!.

Finno

[greengumbo]

Lots of preparing ground and sowing of wheat in the fields around me this week.

Swallows back and checking out the woodshed

Getting bees in mid-may ! I have my combs from last years hive that have capped honey and a bit of uncapped - they and the hive have been acetic acid fumigated. Should I just chuck em out or re-use ? Prob not worth the risk I thought.