86 BEES. 
in this grade to weigh less than 12 ounces. Cases of separatored honey to average 
not less than 19 pounds net. Cases of half-separatored honey to average not less than 
20 pounds net per case of 24 sections. Cases of unseparatored honey to average not 
less than 21 pounds net per case of 24 sections. 
THE PRODUCTION OF WAX. 
Beeswax, which is secreted by the bees and used by them for 
building their combs, is an important commercial product. There 
are times in almost every apiary when there are combs to be melted 
up, and it pays to take care of even scraps of comb and the cappings 
taken off in extracting. A common method of taking out the wax 
is to melt the combs in a solar wax extractor. This is perhaps the 
most feasible method where little wax is produced, but considerable 
wax still remains in old brood combs after such heating. Various 
wax presses are on the market, or one can be made at home. If much 
wax is produced, the bee keeper should make a careful study of the 
methods of wax extraction, as there is usually much wax wasted even 
after pressing. 
PREPARATIONS FOR WINTERING. 
After the main honey flow is over the management must depend 
on what may be expected later in the season from minor honey flows. 
If no crop is to be expected, the colony may well be kept only mod- 
erately strong, so that there will not be so many consumers in the 
hive. 
In localities where winters are severe and breeding is suspended 
for several months great care should be taken that brood-rearing 
is rather active during the late summer, so that the colony may go 
into winter with plenty of young bees. In case any queens show 
lack of vitality they should be replaced early, so that the bees will 
not become queenless during the winter. 
The important considerations in wintering are plenty of young 
bees, a good queen, plenty of stores of good quality, sound hives, 
and proper protection from cold and dampness. 
If, as cold weather approaches, the bees do not have stores enough, 
they must be fed. Every colony should have from 25 to 50 pounds, 
depending on the length of winter and the methods of wintering. 
It is better to have too much honey than not enough, for what is left 
is good next season. If feeding is practiced, honey may be used, but 
sirup made of granulated sugar is just as good and is perfectly safe. 
If honey is purchased for feeding, great care should be taken that it 
comes from a healthy apiary, otherwise the apiary may be ruined 
by disease. Never feed honey bought on the open market. The bees 
should be provided with stores early enough so that it will not be 
necessary to feed or to open the colonies after cold weather comes 
397 
