Journal of Agriculture, Vicioria. [lo Jan., 19 ii.. 



THE PRODUCTION OF COMB-HONEY. 



F . R. Bculine , Bee Expert. 



In Victoria, and in Australia generally, the amount of honey marketed 

 in the comb is only a small fraction of the total production. In England, 

 the United States, and Canada, a considerable portion, perhaps nearly 

 one-half, of the honey used for table purposes is in the comb. 



In North America, the production of comb-honey in i lb sections has 

 attained to large dimensions and many large apiaries are run exclusively 

 for the raising of high grade section-honey, high prices being obtainable 

 for what is graded as '' fancy." In the profitable production of comb- 

 honey, considerable skill, and favourable conditions of climate and flora^. 

 are essential. 



That a larger amount of honey in the comb is not consumed in Aus- 

 tralia is often attributed to lack of enterprise of the apiarists, or to the 

 absence of consumers willing to pay the extra price for honey in the 

 comb, as compared with extracted. 



I'ljpei- li 



SECTIONS FOR COMB-HONT:Y. 

 1-, from starters; lower tier, full sheets. 



The true causes of the small production are, however, the climatic 

 conditions of our country and the vagaries of blossoming and nectar 

 secretion of our native flora. The yields of honey are, perhaps, equal 

 to those obtained in any part of the world, when taken on an average for 

 several years, but our high average is made up of a glut one season and 

 a comparative dearth in the following. We have "on" and "off" 

 years ; and, while it is comparatively easy to produce good .sections in the 

 "on" year, it would be quite unprofitable to attempt it in the "off" 

 year. 



In the case of extracted honey, much of it is held over from one season 

 to another without any deterioration in quality. Comb-honey, however,, 

 cannot be kept in perfect condition for' any length of time, except with a 

 considerable amount of trouble in providing dry warm storage. Thus, 

 I lb. sections may be rather plentiful one season and almost unobtainable 

 the following, and the prices proportionately high. Under these con- 

 ditions, neither production nor consumption can be expected to increase. 



Some ten to fifteen years ago, several apiarists produced comb-honey 

 on a large scale, but abandoned its production for that of extracted honey. 



