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hundred. They were railed by
order throughout the country
and cared for by all concerned for their safe delivery
to the buyers.
Beekeepers and co-operating
farmers planted them and
after ten years good nectar
yields were recorded and
strong swarms were the order
of the day.
By 1986 in the Benoni,
Boksburg, Nigel and Springs
areas there were seven
beekeepers operating 4 500
hives and producing some
400 tons of honey annually.
Prior to these times the mines
in these areas planted them
for underground props and
stakes.
But then environmentalists, in
their ignorance of the value of
these trees to the export and
beekeeping industries,
convinced the government
that eucalyptus trees are
invasive foreign trees, robbing
our land of underground
water resources, and a law
was passed for the removal of
all gum trees.
“Working for Water” was
formed and gangs of workers
go about farms, municipalities
and other open areas,
produce legal documents, and
offer to remove the trees free
of charge.
The problem is that not all
eucalyptus trees are aliens
and many indigenous trees
are removed by these, and
other unscrupulous felling
gangs, as a result.
Fortunately, some farmers
chase them off the farms as
they value their trees for their
many good uses and the
support of the beekeepers,
where they rest and
strengthen their hives.
The annoying fact is that these
gangs cut the trees down but
do not remove the roots, and
the tree still draws water from
underground and nobody
SOCIALBEEKEEPING
MEDIA
from “Working for Water”,
nor the environ mentalists,
monitor this malpractice to
see that the job is done
properly.
Here are some facts about the
eucalyptus trees.
K The tree is not tap rooted
and in strong winds after
heavy rainstorms they are
blown down.
K They flower after 14
months and can again flower
after ten months.
K The previous season's
fruiting produces millions of
viable seeds that are released
when the tree is cut down.
However when the tree is not
21
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cut down these seeds are not
released and become infertile
in the old adhering fruits.
Therefore, by cutting the tree
down, a huge volume spread
of seed is scattered within
twelve hours.
K Where people break the
viable fruiting branches for
poles or small posts the viable
seed is released within twelve
hours and that causes the
invasion of the trees in many
cases.
K Swaziland's foresters have
planted large volumes of
eucalyptus trees to expand
their honey producing
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