The Rural Voice, 2001-06, Page 12WELLESLEY
LOADING CHUTES
SHERK'S HORSE
FEEDERS
SHEEP FEEDERS
settings
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onivisk
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'4 1140
LOADING
CHUTES
• Heavy
Construction
• 3 Pt. hitch
(both sides)
• Ramp
26" - 42"
SHEEP FEEDERS
. '''''76111*. NOV
Oal
fi,' �yN OH
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• Ruggedly
• Manufactured
14 gauge
• 32" wide
Rods are
• Grains and
fed. Sizes
Other sizes
SHERK'S
• Trough made
• 6" deep trough
• V -type manger
Sizes available:
all6'
6' high
Can be used
and other
TILMAN
R.R.
519-656-3338
519-656-3429
built yet convenient feeder
with 1" x 1" tubing and
sheet metal
trough with 3/8" rod V -type
21/2" apart for less hay
other fine particle feeds
available: 4', 6' and 8' long.
available upon request.
HORSE FEEDER
i er»g
�F }:., M
-'v --. rt.
of 14 gauge sheet metal
32" from ground
made of 3/8 rods, 3"
4' or 6' or 8'
for grains
feeds CANADIAN
SHERK
#3 Wellesley, Ontario
evenings
.
manger
waste
can be
Ate;
Fh4
apart
MADE
8 THE RURAL VOICE
Robert Mercer
Bee condos for your backyard
Last year I made a bee condo.
This is a square block of wood with
5/16" holes drilled into it about 4 - 5"
deep. It is attached to our sturdy
washing line pole facing SW and ha
a wood shingle
cover to stop
any direct rain.
I'm trying to
attract and
house a local
species of feral
bee.
My aim is to
increase the
number of "Blue
Orchard Mason
Bees" in our
garden to help
pollinate our
fruit trees, berry
crops and
flowers. I can do this without having
to use a hive of normal European
honey bees, which is not a good idea
in an urban setting.
The arrival of the African Varroa
mite, which is a parasite to the honey
bee, has seriously affected the bee
populations here on Vancouver
Island. This inexpensive backyard
beeing is one way to help yourself
and the bees.
The Blue Orchard Mason bee is a
native species of solitary bee and for
this purpose he/she comes in a small
box sold at the local feed store. The
container with a number of bees in
cocoons is placed near the bee condo
and a hole is punched in one end.'
When the spring temperature gets to
9°C on a sunny day the bees come to
life. They see my beautiful condo
and are supposed to enter a rental
agreement right away! Well, that's
the idea. So far I have no takers that I
have noticed.
The bees are said to stay close to
home and notfly too far once they
emerge from their cocoons in March.
They live in sync with the west coast
blossom time (March to June or July)
and live for about six weeks.
The Mason bee is a busy little
fellow. He/she is smaller than the
European honey bee but is three
times as active. It does not store'
honey but rather pollen and nectar for
the next generation of cocoons as
food. The bee seldom stings and if it
does the sting is said to be much like
a mosquito bite.
The Mason bee (Osmia Lingnaria)
is so called as it seals off the end of
its nest area with mud. As it is one of
the first insects in the spring it is
often mistaken for a housefly and is
swatted in error. This is another
reason to try to raise awareness of
this useful pollinator.
There is little maintenance needed
once the condo is built: all of 4" x 4"
x 6" with four lines of holes, and
eight to ten holes in each line. But if
there are mites then some gentle
cleaning of the cocoons and the
nesting areas is required. These
instructions come with the bees who
are a product of Crop Pollination
Consultants Ltd. in Coquitlam in
B.C. (Note that these bees are not
shipped to Ontario because of
possible transfer of disease or mites.)
For those interested, there is a good
web site at www.beediverse.com who
then have a link to Washington State
University where more work has
been done to the effectiveness of the
wild bees.
So I am hoping for better crops
this year. The spring blossom has
been great and the -hum of the bees in
the trees pleasing to the ear. I now
wait for the fruit of my labours.0
Robert Mercer was editor of the
Broadwater Market Letter and a farm
commentator in Ontario for 25 years.
INDUSTRIAL &
FARM SUPPLIES
• Nuts & Bolts (all grades)
• Hydraulic hose & fittings
• Belts • Bearings
• Grade 70 Transport Chain
• Roller Chain
• Tools
Springmount Industrial Park
Owen Sound N4K 5N7
519-376-0283 FAX 519-376-7202