COME KONE Y. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The present tendency in beekeeping is decidedly toward the pro- 
duction of extracted honey rather than of comb honey. The recent 
activity among beekeepers toward specialization, which necessitates 
the establishing of out-apiaries, and the rapidly increasing demand 
for extracted honey are among the factors bringing about this condi- 
tion. Enormous quantities of honey are now used for manufacturing 
purposes, and this demand is, of course, solely for extracted honey. 
if the general public finally becomes convinced of the purity and 
wholesomeness of extracted honey, this will become a staple article of 
food. Comb honey to command the higher price—proportionate to 
the greater cost of production—must justify the extra cost to the 
consumer by its finer appearance. The consumer of extracted honey 
is not concerned as to the straightness or finish of the combs in which 
it was originally stored, but by virtue of its appearance there will 
probably always be a good demand for the finest grade of comb 
honey where appearance is the chief consideration. Present tenden- 
cies therefore emphasize the desirability of producing comb honey 
of the most attractive appearance possible. 
Well-filled sections of comb honey with delicate white comb and per- 
fect cappings are obtainable only during a rapid honey flow of sufficient 
duration to insure their completion. The production of comb honey, 
the appearance of which is sufficient to justify its extra cost, requires 
a combination of conditions that are peculiar to rather limited areas, 
outside of which the beekeeper will find it decidedly advantageous to 
produce extracted honey. 
Comb-honey production should not be attempted in localities where 
the honey flow is very slow or intermittent, where the character of 
the honey is such that it granulates quickly in the comb while it is 
on the market, where the honey is dark or “off color,’ or where honeys 
from various sources are mixed if these different sources produce 
honey of different colors and flavors. Local market conditions may 
ef course in some instances be such as to make it seem advisable to 
produce comb honey in limited quantities in a locality that is not well 
suited to comb-honey production, but the beekeeper who produces 
comb honey for the general market should first be sure that his is a 
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