Bookshelf

The cultivated plants of the tropics and subtropics

by S Rehm and G Espig

Verlag Josef Mararaf, Weikersheim, Germany (1991). 552 pp. Hardback

This compact manual contains an amazing wealth of detail on over 1000 of the plant species which provide us with food, drinks, spices, medicinal plants, raw materials for clothing and many other requirements Each chapter begins with an introduction to the particular properties of the plant group, the economics, production trends, nutritional aspects, chemistry and technological features Major crops are treated in detail Ornamental and forest plants are not included. This book is mentioned here on Bookshelf because it may be of interest to readers involved with aspects of sustainable land use The information given on beekeeping unfortunately very brief and erroneous part.

Bees and beekeeping in Southern Africa

edited by R H Anderson and B Buys

Proceedings of the International Beekeepers’ Symposium, Stellenbosch, 1990. 160 pp. Available from IBRA. price to be announced.

This publication is formed from the papers given at the International Beekeepers’ Symposium held in Stellenbosch, South Africa in January 1990 The subjects of the papers relate to aspects of pollination, the impact of African bees in the USA, bees and pesticides, the biology and management of Apis mellifera capensis (the Cape honey bee) and Apis mellifera scutellata, honey, beekeeping techniques, stings, forage, and short reports of beekeeping activities in countries neighbouring South Africa The publication therefore covers wide range of interests and will be a worthwhile addition to beekeeping libraries

Bees of the world

by C O'Toole and A Raw

Blandford. London, UK (1991) 192 pp Hardback. Available from IBRA price £18.95.

This book will be enjoyed by anyone who has a liking for bees. It is highly readable, full of interesting illustraliations ( mostly in colour) and helpful diagrams. The book explains what bees are, and how they differ from other insects With a world fauna of 25 000 described species, bees easily outstrip amphibians and reptiles (5500 species), birds (8600 species) and mammals (3500 species), and new bee species are being identified every year Most bee species are solitary and the life cycles of mining, mason, leaf-cutter and carder bees are described The road to sociality is then discussed, leading of course to honey bees and stingless bees. The final chapters discuss bees and flowers. with a whole chapter devoted to the unlikely partners bees and orchids. The idea of the male honey bee as the lazy, feckless drone, relying on workers to feed him, has permeated our language. To set the record straight, the authors have devoted a whole chapter to males of the species, carefully emphasising the vital role of male bees and how they achieve it. The cover of the book features happy scene eleven males of an as yet undescribed species of Eucera (ground-nesting bees} settled down for the night on flower of Chrysanthemum coronarium.

Guide to bees and honey

by T Hooper

Blandford, London, UK (1991 third edition) 271 pp. Hardback. Available from IBRA price £15.95.

The third edition of this excellent. practical guide The type of beekeeping described is with movable-frame hives and the text relates to conditions prevailing in the UK However, much of the information can be universally applied to frame-hive beekeeping and at £15 95 this text still represents excellent value for money.

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